SLAUGHTER OF WHALES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 163, 30 September 1927, Page 14

SLAUGHTER OF WHALES

WIDER CONTROL NEEDED NON-TERRITORIAL WATERS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. ]VfORE effective control of whale catching in the Ross Sea Dependency, without as well as inside the territorial limits, is sought by the Government, and representations have been made to the Imperial authorities in this respect. The operation of an unlicensed Norwegian whaling factory, which operated strictly outside territorial waters, has caused the Marine Department some concern, and the secretary, Mr. G. C. Godfrey, in his annual report to Parliament says that this concern secured about 36.000 barrels of oil — sufficient to induce others to the locality next year in anticipation of such unlicensed operations. The department, as far as existing legislation permitted, made regulations governing the whaling industry in the Ross Dependency, but as such would have application to territorial waters only, the unlicensed factory, which apparently did not enter territorial waters, was enabled to carry on its operations without any restriction or interference. The attention of the Imperial authorities had been drawn to this, and it: was hoped some action may be taken so as more effectively to control the capture of whales. The fact that unlicensed factories could operate outside territorial limits nade it appear obvious that, in the Ross Sea at least, the preservation of whales from decimation could be achieved only by international agreement. From observations made during the present season it is observed that the number of whales has not become unduly depleted, and that, provided the killing can be satisfactorily regulated, their capture should provide a remunerative occupation for many years to come. The catch for the season was 78G whales, producing 70.300 barrels of oil. Of this the C. A. Larsen secured 532 whales, producing 47,500 barrels, and the Sir James Clark Ross 254 whales, producing 22,800 barrels of oil.