HUNTING WHALES

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 70, 23 March 1934, Page 8

HUNTING WHALES

NORWEGIAN MONOPOLY.

HEAVY ANNUAL SLAUGHTER

Addressing the Onehunga-Manukau Chamber of Commerce last evening, Mr. R. A. Falla, of the Auckland Museum staff, said that the whaling industry in recent years had become a Norwegian monopoly and, with the present scientific methods of shooting the whales, together with expert knowledge of their habits, it would not be long at the present rate of hunting before the whales in southern polar waters would be exterminated.

In 1930-31, said Mr. Falla, no fewer than 42 Norwegian ships and 210 chasers, or steam catchers, were in operation in the Antarctic, and, as perpetual daylight prevailed during the summer, the crews worked 24 hours a day, in 12 hour shifts and, if each vessel failed to secure at least 1000 whales in the season the owners were dissatisfied. Mr. Falla said he estimated the returns showed an average of 1000 whales a

ship. Referring to the value of Antarctic meteorological data, Mr. Falla said that the weather conditions in New Zealand were largely governed by those existing in the Antarctic and that the recent inclement summer might be attributed to the boisterous season experienced in the South. This would definitely account for the frosts last month in New Zealand. *