WHALE LABELLING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 40, 15 August 1925, Page 16

WHALE LABELLING

USE OF IDENTITY DISCS,

I What has been described as "The j Whale-Labelling" expedition is, aLon- , don "Daily Chronicle" representative learned recently, likely to leave Portsmouth for the Falkland Islands about the end of next month. The expedition, which is under the auspices of the Colonial Office, will investigate the question of the preservation of. whales and of the whaling industry, which has been subject to Government regulations ! since its inception over 20 years ago. Captaia Scott's old vessel, the Discovery, will be. used by the expedition. Efforts will be made by the exjpeditiori, to solve, aniong other problems. I the following:—Are whales polygamous ? What is their.birth rate? How long dn they live? How far do they travel? What .floating organisms constitute their | food? ' This last problem the expedition will seek to solve.by an examination of the stomach contents of whales. . TVdotermfae whether, whales breeding |in African, waters migrate- to Southern sens to feed,-small darts bearing metal labels will be fired from a specially, designed Crossbow into the thick layer of | blubber of the back. > If any such labels are subsequently taken from whales killed in African waters during the breeding season, the theory of migration will bo established, rind-any .legislation considered necessary for.the preservation of; .whale* "Would liavp-to cover both Antarctic and African regions. Iv the season 1911-12 more than 10,000 whales were killed,