BRITAIN’S WHALING HARVEST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 31, 21 May 1947, Page 6

BRITAIN’S WHALING HARVEST

OIL, AND MEAT-MEAL FOR CATTLE AIRCRAFT USED FOR ' SPOTTING Britain is bringing back from the Antarctic rich harvest of whale oil and meat-meal for cattle feed and meat extract. The season has been remarkably good and the factory ship, Balaena, was’ fortunate in securing the highest proportion of whales and edible oil. Owing to the fact that at the present moment the world needs are the most critical ever known, no less than 41 different expeditions have been fishing . in Antarctic waters. More than 2000 whales were caugfyt by British crews, which is equivalent to nearly an eighth of the total of the annual allocation under last year’s International Whaling Convention. 185,000 barrels of oil were produced, in addition to sperm oil and other by-products. This far exceeds expectations which had estimated the yield at only 115,000 barrels. ,

Another way in which the British expedition distinguished itself was in the pioneer use of aircraft for whale spotting, and for weather reconnaissance. This experiment fully justified itself, and it is possible that it will lead to the use of long-range land based flying boats or helicopters as adjuncts to whaling fleets.