One of the interesting archives concerning whaling is the Basque legal  
archives (although I no longer recall where it is located). The Basque whalers  
took out insurance on their expeditions and often filed claims or were sued for  
failure to make payments upon their return. Fascinating details emerge from  
those claims and counter-suits. The one Dutch scholar I have met also said the  
legal records for 16th century Dutch whaling expeditions, as well as health  
records, are extensive. Of course, researching this source requires 
considerable  funding and language skills to ferret out the story.
 
Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.