| Summary: | A group of Inuit and whaling crew members stand outdoors at Hudson Bay in the Canadian Arctic, ca. 1897-1905. Whaleboats (some covered) and whaling gear are also visible. Some of the Inuit wear clothing identified as obtained from the Americans. Infrastructure Livelihood Title supplied by cataloger. Information from original envelope identifies this as Photo # 8. The schooner Era was built in 1847 at Boston, Massachusetts. She was a New London whaling vessel until her last voyage out of that port in 1892; her masters included James Monroe Buddington and John O. Spicer. Captain George Comer of East Haddam served on her as mate under Captain Spicer. Comer was later master of the Era for several Arctic voyages out of New Bedford, 1895-1906. She was wrecked off Miquelon Island, July 27, 1906. Citation: Captain George Comer and the Arctic / by Fred Calabretta in The Log of Mystic Seaport, Winter 1984, p. 118-131, and from For oil and buggy whips / by Barnard L. Colby, p. 178-182. Taken by Captain George Comer (1858-1937), a sealer and whaling captain from East Haddam. He went to sea while still in his teens and was later master of vessels from both New London and New Bedford. Comer participated in voyages involved in polar expeditions and was noted for his studies of Arctic peoples and their environment.
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