Why do people whale?

Answer 1

people whale because for example (the makah) have a signed treaty to be able to whale
If you mean the Japanese, they whale for research.

More detail can be found on the Institute for Cetacean Research website, but in short, the research is being conducted to produce evidence to the IWC that commercial whaling is viable.

Though the ICR has shown repeatedly that that is the case, many Western nations oppose this, on false grounds, based on anti-Japanese sentiment.

Answer 2

For food, oil, ambergris, bones and other by-products.