WHALING IN ANTARCTIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 8

WHALING IN ANTARCTIC

MAY BE LEFT TO JAPANESE. It seems likely now that Japan will have the rich harvest of the Antarctic whaling fields to herself this season because of the war. ■ The whaling grounds have previously been exploited principally by Scandinavian ships, but owing to war difficulties they will not be coming south this year. Il seems strange that Australia, at whoso back door the whaling grounds lie, has been content to let. other nations exploit the wealth of whale oil, all the more so as it is the sort of enterprise that would appeal to the instinct of Australians- for adventure. And in almost every other field of enterprise Australian capital and Indus-1 try has shown itself ready to seize any likely opportunity. Last season forty-two factory ships, with large attendant fleets of chasers, were in (he Antarctic, flying the flags of six nations, including Great Britain, Norway, Germany, the United States and, Japan. This season Japan is sending six factory ships, forty-seven chasers. a large refrigerated vessel, and several store ships, employing altogether about 3500 mon. The refrigerated ship will load whale meat from ) the factory ships and return to Japan as soon as it has 7000 tons aboard. Previously store ships returned with only small quantities of whale meat for experimental purposes, but it found such a ready sale in Japan that this year the whaling fleet is bringing a refrigerated ship with it. Whale oil is expected to reach £2l a ton. compared with £l5 last year. An idea of the rich reward that can be earned by an expedition can be obtained from the experience of a Norwegian company. The profits of their first trip returned them their capital in full and a dividend of 100 per cent. They then sold their factory ship and chasers to Japanese buyers.