George,
There are several good sources on the global history of whaling.
For a recent review:
Reeves, R.R. and Smith T.D. 2003 "A Taxonomy of World Whaling:  
Operations, Eras and Data Sources" Northeast Fisheries Science Center  
Reference Document 03-12
A somewhat older collection of papers:
International Whaling Commission 1967 Report of the International  
Whaling Commission (Special Issue) 10
And for a southern hemisphere perspective:
Lawrence, S. and Staniforth, M. (eds) 1998 The Archaeology of Whaling  
in Southern Australia and New Zealand. Australasian Society for  
Historical Archaeology Special Publication No 10.
We are currently working on further
19th century shore whaling sites in New Zealand
Ian

Associate Professor Ian W.G. Smith
Department of Anthropology,
University of Otago
PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
ph 64-3-479-8752
fx 64-3-479-9095
[log in to unmask]
www.otago.ac.nz/anthropology