WHALING AREAS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17239, 21 April 1930, Page 13

WHALING AREAS

WORTH MILLIONS PROMISE OF GREAT INDUSTRY MAW SON EXPEDITION ’8 DISCOVERY MELBOURNE. April 9. A whaling area worth millions of pounds was discovered by the British-Australia-New Zealand Antarctic. Research Expedition under the command of »Sir Douglas Mawson. The field was come upon by ihe Discovery in the course of its scientific investigations, and the work of charting the Antarctic coast line. Much work is necessary before tin* whaling and sealing areas can be developed, and Sir Douglas .Mawson, who reached Melbourne to-day by the Adelaide express. emphasised that much of scientific value had been learned, the full significance of which could he realised only when all data Recorded bad been collated.

VYlieii questioned as to the future, of tin* expedition, Kir Douglas Mawson said: “1 am not the man to leave things half done. The' next cruise of the Discovery will enable the work of charting the coastline to be completed. ’' No whaling had been done in the area located by the expedition, Sir Douglas Mawson added. Authoritative data was not available concerning flu* marine life of tin* seas explored. Such work as I lie Discovery had carried out was a necessary preliminary To ilie development of whaling. The possibility of the presence of codfish banks, such as those of Newfoundland, was kepi in mind, and further investigation would lie made on the next cruise.

Of the part which Australia might take in the whole industry. Sir Douglas Mawson was not inclined to speak. Kir Douglas Mawson, Captain J. K. Davis, the coniniaiider of; the Discovery, and the staff of the expedi--1 ion were entertained by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Luxtoii) at the Town Hall at noon.

Sir Douglas Mawson said that a great whaling industry would he built: up south of Australia. While the Discovery was in the region tenanted by whales, where no hunting had been done, a Norwegian ship arrived. The Discovery immediately communicated with South African and . British whalers, and a number arrived. He believed that the proceeds from that field alone this year would amount to .□.000,000 or £2,000,000.