ROSS SEA WHALING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 156, 5 July 1927, Page 16

ROSS SEA WHALING.

NOT THE MOST POPULAR. "CHASERS" FOR REPAIRS. ARRIVAL AT TORT CHALMERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, llonday. To European whaling hand- Ross Sea is not the most popular whaling place in the Antarctic. They prefer South Georgia and South Shetlands, where the season lasts much longer, and the "takes" are consequently as a rule considerably larger. Last season is said to 'have been twice as large. As the crews are usually employed on a "share" in addition to wages, the number of barrels of whale oil totalling the season's catch has a direct relation to the remuneration received by the men in the more skilled branches of whaling. A share may equal or excel actual wages when the harpooner scores a lucky tally. So, it appears that Ross Sea expeditions are not rushed by experts. Last season in Ross Sea the C. A. Larsen outfit secured more than double the number of barrels of whale oil obtained by the smaller storeship, J. Clark Ross. It appears that the former vessel had three large chasers manned by expert "shooters." That helped, as did also the Larsen'e greater facilities for disposing of dead whales. Two of the larger chasers (Kerrahatta and Pagodroma), arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday for repairs below the waterline. The other chasers, not requiring such attention, are being overhauled art" Stewart Island, where repair facilities have been installed. Storeships from Norway are expected to reach Stewart Island about the end of October en route for Ross Sea.