Earlier in this section on maritime Middelfart, I mentioned the modesty of the Middelfart Navy association's club house when compared to the palace like club in Marstal.
However, - the more modest Middelfart club house has something that Marstal cannot compete with: A truly magnificent and perfect location, - right at the waters edge -,  with a great view over the water and a truly wonderful wind indicator on the roof.
Beat that Marstal!!!!  :-)
 
 

To become a member of the Danish Navy Association, - "Marineforeningen" -, does not necessarily require that you have served the Navy, - like I did myself.
Actually it is enough if you have some special interest in maritime matters or has some sort of connection to the sea.
 
 

As you have seen on my picture of the old city logo for Middelfart, - it shows a middle age ship with a whale underneath.
 
 

The size of the whale on that logo is just as big as the ship's hull, - and if this picture should refer to the whale hunting that took place from Middelfart in the old days, - the size of the whale is highly exaggerated.
We are NOT talking about brave sailors hunting the giant sperm- or blue whales from small open boats thousands of miles away on the big, icy oceans, - but a much smaller and local kind of whale of the porpoise family.
 
 

A much more correct picture of this small, local whale is shown on the "Marsvinebrønden" , - the "Porpoise Well" -, as you can see on the picture above, - where the size of the whale is seen in relation to a human being, - the whale hunter.
 
 

These small porpoises, - "marsvin" in Danish -, I have seen and been very close to for about 45 years, - or as long as I have been navigating the local waters, where a lot of those whales apparently like to live.
Sometimes I have had them following on each side of my boat, - so close that I could actually touch them -, and often they can be seen in great numbers "rolling" in and out of the water, and you can hear the "piggy" sound when they blow air - - -
In spite of "thousands" of sightings, I have, - unfortunately enough -, never been so lucky to photograph them in the magic moment when they just break the surface and blow air - - -
They are simply too fast for me, because I only use totally manually operated cameras, and before I have got hold of my camera, - aimed it, - focused, - and adjusted time and shutter speed, - the whales are long gone - - -
They will, - of course -, return to the surface again, but you do not know when or where they suddenly might reappear.
Therefore the pictures above are most likely the best I have, - but now I have invested in a digital camera, that can operate fully automatic , - and fast -, so who knows????
Maybe the future will bring some better pictures of our small, local whale, - the "marsvin" - - -
Beware whales: I have NOT given up! In fact I am convinced, that one day I will outperform you, - and be the fastest!
 
 

The hunt for these small whales were unique for Middelfart through several hundred years, where a good years catch could number about 2000 whales.
The hunt took place during the winter season when the whales migrated in large numbers through Lillebælt, - right past the narrow section of the belt, - and Middelfart.
When the whales arrived, the hunters formed a line with their small boats, - made a lot of noise -, and chased the whales into the long and narrow fjord, - Gamborg Fjord -, where the whales were caught in nets at small island Svinø.
The name Svinø refers to the porpoises, - marsvin in Danish -, and should therefore rightfully be called MARSVINØ, but is only referred to as SVINØ, where the first three letters "MAR" are missing.

See the following pictures from SVINØ, - "MarSVINØ" -, a beautiful and quiet little island, where no traces of the whale hunting can be seen anymore - -
 
 

After having met their destiny at at Svinø, the small whales were dragged up on the beach at Teglgård, - a picturesque community at the south side of Middelfart -, to the opposite side of the old harbour.
 
 

From the beach at Teglgård, the whales were taken to the boiling plant where the whale oil was collected.
Nothing remains of this whale boiling plant, but the place is marked by a very modest stone with an inscription.
It is near the old part of the city, - not so far from "Knorregade" , on the road to Gammel Havn -, and the place is now occupied by a doctor's house.

Towards the end of the eighteen hundreds, the use of petroleum and gas had replaced whale oil, and the whale hunting was only taken up again in short periods during the first- and the second World War, when petroleum products were difficult to obtain.

After that the traditional whale hunting based in Middelfart was over for good, and in 1967 the small whale became a totally protected species, and could no longer be hunted.
However, - about 3000 of the small whales get accidentally caught in fishing nets every year, and that is actually about 1000 more than was caught on purpose in a good season in the old days - - -
Work is going on to find means that prevents the whales to be caught in fishing nets, but so far without success.
 
 

Page initiated:  Jan.04.2008
Page updated:   Jan.05.2008