The Finback was a schooner involved in the whaling industry, notable for being described as the last whaling ship from New England to operate in the area near Chesterfield Inlet in Hudson Bay. Although specific construction details such as her length, beam, tonnage, or rigging configuration are not provided, her operational history and circumstances of her wreck are well documented. Captain George Comer, a highly experienced whaling captain, commanded the Finback during her final voyage, which was reportedly undertaken to support a scientific expedition. According to accounts, the vessel was part of the waning era of New England whaling ships in the Arctic region. The voyage ended in 1919 when the Finback was wrecked near Chesterfield Inlet. Sergeant W. O. Douglas of the Royal North-West Mounted Police played a significant role following her wreck. He assisted in restoring the crew to civilization and later became involved in salvage efforts. Douglas described the captain as a strict disciplinarian, noting that the crew had been "shanghaied," or involuntarily signed onto the vessel, after being lured with alcohol. He also suspected that the ship's owners might have intentionally planned to wreck the vessel for insurance purposes. Douglas bid on the salvage rights and purchased the wreck for only $390—an amount equivalent to approximately $7,073 in 2024—mainly because the ship was stranded on a rock that had holed her hull. Much of the vessel remained above water, and he authorized an Inuit family to visit the site, allowing them to take canned goods and maritime gear in exchange for their assistance. He later inspected the wreck and believed that, with proper salvage efforts, the ship could have been recovered. Ultimately, a storm dislodged her from the rock, and she sank into deeper waters. The Finback's story highlights the challenges faced by Arctic whalers and the grim realities of maritime enterprise in the early 20th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.