NORWEGIAN WEALING FLEET.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14525, 29 November 1912, Page 3

NORWEGIAN WEALING FLEET.

A COMPLAINT FROM STEWART ISLAND.

Tho barque Mimoso and other vessels of the .Norwegian whaling fleet, at present operating in Stewart Island waters, are under sailing orders. This intelligence lias been received with a sigh of relief by those residents of Stewart Island and tho mainland who have the interests of the island at heart from the points of view of the tourist traffic ana tho fishing industry (telegraphs the Blult' correspondent of tho Uunedin ''Star.' , ) Tnero can be no doubt that both these commercial spheres cannot but suffer in such places as Paterson Inlet through the operations there of a whaling fleet. Ilosidents take no exception to tho cause, but they do protest against the eiiects. Carcases dotted about tho shores of a popular tourist resort cannot but militate against tho tourist business there, and the effect of the killing ol whales and the drifting about of rotting carcases has tho same effect upon the fishing industry. At the Shetland Islands, for instance, it is authoritatively stated that the operations of the Norwegian whalers had a tremendously detrimental effect upon the fishing industry there. The killing of whales has the same effect as iiie rotting of carcases, on account of the enormous amount of blood lost a whale—nine-tenths being lost before towing could commence. This and the rottiug of carcases cannot but have a big effect in the contamination of the waters in the vicinity. The magnetlike attraction of whale-slaughter to sharks is also another factor. Residents do not wish to place obstacles in the way of tho Norwegian or any whalers, but they do say that they should not have stations, shore or ship, within sight of any tourist resort or fishing grounds. Let them go to Cuttle Cove or other distant quarters and carry out their industry there. Now that .some of the Norwegians purpose leaving Paterson Inlet, the residents affected urge upon the Department the necessity of definitely protecting all such tourist resorts from tho ill effects of whalers. One word in conclusion: —It would be a protection to tho Norwegians themselves to get their prews away from the attractions of civilisation, and so prevent the continual running atnay or sailors that has taken place at Stewart Island.