Aaron the Whalecatcher
(Aaron Inman, Long Beach Island pioneer in early 1700's)

Whalers established outposts on the beaches
around Barnegat Bay in the late 1600's.
(Illustration from Down Barnegat Bay,
A Nor'easter Midnight Reader, by Robert Jahn)

Anxious wives and sweethearts, pacing Long Beach sand,
waiting for their menfolk to tow a whale to land.
The news is long awaited; is the mother ship in sight?
Or, are they in some danger; did the whale put up a fight?

Aaron was a whalecatcher, from Pawtucket he had hailed.
His whalepath, the Atlantic, for many years he sailed.
The day he happened on our Inlet was to change his life.
For he returned to Long Beach Island with Rachel Grant, his wife.

In Great Swamp* where they settled, they raised their brawny sons
who followed in their father's footsteps, producing oil in tons.
Their daily lives experienced, encompassed thrills and fears.
Descendants handed down their whaling yarns for many years.

Near the sand dunes stood a tall pole, where lookouts climbed notch by notch
to sit in the lofty crowsnest, where they kept a constant watch.
In season, they would scan the sea for whales that ventured near.
While, on the beachfront, men were ever ready with their gear.

When the lookout sang out, "Thar she blo-o-ows!" they answered, "Where away?"
And very soon the chase was on, for an exciting day.
For, as quickly as they could, they had to move up on the whale.
But, if it was too far away, they hoisted up a sail.

The routine that they followed was precise from start to kill.
Harpooner, lancer and the mates all had to prove their skill.
For the beast could smash the boat apart with one lash of his tail.
It wasn't any picnic for these men to land a whale.

And when at last they rode to anchor from these adventurous trips,
they weren't thru', for the blubber had to be cut off in strips.
The iron try pot on the beach was soon fired up to boil.
Hopefully, an average whale made fifty barrels of oil.

Whale oil was so important, necessary for their light.
It was burned in lamps in those days to stave off the dark of night.
They reserved the teeth and jawbone to carve on idle days.
There was market for the whalebone for skirt hoops and corset stays.
The villagers didn't mind the stench; they'd always be on hand
to watch, until all's left was bones to bleach upon the sand.
On Long Beach Island have been found cutting spades, harpoons and spears.
They help to tell the history of early whaling years.

*Great Swamp is now Surf City

-Lillian Arnold Lopez "Pineylore"

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