ANTARCTIC WHALES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 February 1928, Page 2

ANTARCTIC WHALES

SOON EXTINCT COMPANY’S HUGH PROFITS LONDON, 27th Jan. Behind Norway’s claim to Bouvet Island, in the Antarctic, which has been British territory for 102 years, lies, says the “Daily News,” the rivalry between two Norwegian companies for the right to secure whales in those waters. The world’s supply of the mammals is rapidly being exhausted. In certain contingencies, the paper adds, conflicting claims to the control of these isolated spots on the earth’s surface might.lead to. international trouble. One company, according to the “Daily News,” applied to Norway for the whaling concession. The other, better informed, applied to Britain. Both applications were granted. It is estimated that only 10,000 or 12,000 whales remain, and the exterminating rate is 1500 to 2000 a year. Various companies are aiming to kill as many as possible to prevent others from securing them. The Ronsbery Whaling Company, operating off South America, paid a 50 per cent, dividend, and put £55,000 in reserve in 1024, besides ordering four new whalers. Bouvet Island, the paper adds, is composed of black lava, with no vegetation, but is inhabited by seals and birds. It does not propose much from the point of exploration, but such places are valuable in war time. For instance. South Georgia produced 50,000,000 gallons of whale oil for explosives. The importance of such spot 3 is likely to grow- as, for instance, Adelie Land, which France claims and which Britain asked Australia to control. Conceivably this might lead to trouble in certain contingencies, and it is now suggested that such disputable points should he scheduled for the League’s allocation, by agreement among the Powers. Regulations for the preservation of whales and seals, it is suggested should also be made. The Oslo correspopdent of the “Times” says the Liberal newspaper Sjoefartstidende expresses the opinion that undoubtedly Norway believed the island to be no-man’s land, otherwise she would not have claimed it. The Anglo-Norwegian discussions will, it adds, doubtless be amicable.