THE WHALING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 4

THE WHALING INDUSTRY.

IS THE BUSINESS OVERDONE? A DANISH WARNING. In view of the exceptional activity in the whaling industry that is being displayed in the Antarctic this season, and the proposals to float new companies in Australia and New Zealand, it may be as well to mention that the Copenhagen correspondent of "The Times" has reported that in Denmark warnings have been given of the over-expansion or the whaling industry, adding that last autumn an attempt was made to prevent the formation of new companies. This effort was, however, in vain, and the number ■of floating factories for the 102S-29 season showed an increase of about 75 per cent on the previous season. Further increases of 30 per cent in the number of floating factories and of 50 per cent in that of whalers hava since been reported. The "Okonomisk Revue" says, therefore, that it is time to publish a serious warning.

The stock of wales is certainly not increasing (states the correspondent). On the contrary it is in all probability decreasing, and there can be little doubt that the continual additions to the equipment for hunting the whale will result in a serious diminution in the stock of the animals. In these circumstances international regulation seems absolutely necessary. It is deep-sea whaling that has caused the great expansion of killing. Obviously this form of whaling has various advantages, but i it is disastrous to the stock and may'4bring about the extermination of the species.