IIRC whaling back then wasn't done for food (except by the inuit), but for the blubber (for lights) and extracts (as a daily nutrient boost / "medicine"). I think my parents were still made to eat that. I don't know the details though, I guess it had some essential vitamins and such they couldn't get in regular food? Like modern-day fish oil.

Funnily enough, a few years back I invited my 90+ year old Nan to a barbecue, and my wife said to ask her if there was anything she didn't eat.

"Yes, whale meat. We had it during the war and you didn't know if you were eating meaty fish or fishy meat."

The most valuable product was spermaceti, the cleanest-burning light source before electric light.