WHALING OPERATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1929, Page 2

WHALING OPERATIONS

INTENSITY OF FISHING

WELLINGTON, October 1

It has hot been ascertained what degree of' intensity of fishing the waters in,the Ross Sea Dependency will stand without unduly depleting the whales The Marine Department’s report states [that it is clear if pelagic whaling continues to increase.as it has been doing there must come a time when the reproduction of. whales will be seriously affected. There ,is always one safeguard, however, which should prevent fishing becoming too intensive and that is that these Antarctic expeditions involve a huge capital outlay and operating expenditure and when competition becomes more intensive than the supply of whales justifies some of the expeditions must go to the wall, there fore fishing expeditions will have to be adjusted to the economic result. The possibility of such a state of affairs will it is hoped, force all concerned to realise the necessity, for an international agreement for the regulation of whaling operations to an extent that will ensure th© continuance o'f the industry by maintaining the required standard of reduction,

It is hoped that the Discovery scientific expedition in the Antarctic during the 1929-30 season will add materially to knowledge on. the subject. During the 1928-29 season three float ing factories operated in the Ross Sen. Dependency, two of them under license and one not licensed. Two further cqmpanies are in process of formation with the object of whaling in the same waters, and both have been promised licenses if flotation is successful. One of these companies is purely English and the other New Zealand and Australian.

It is understood that the unlicensed factory, which has previously operated in the Ross Sea will return for the 1929-30 season and that another very large vessel is. being fitted out with the same intent.