The Sperm Whale and the Southern Right Whale have long
been sought after and captured in Southern waters. The capture of these valuable animals has in the past largely been carried on by American whalers operating in the open sea. Although numbers of these whales may still exist, they are probably far less numerous than they once were. The fin- whales, partly on account of their inferior value and partly on account of the greater difficulty in effecting their capture, have remained until recently unmolested. The Norwegians
• Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Research and Development In the Dependencies of the Falkland Islands. April, 1920. were the first to address themselves seriously to the capture of the fin whales. Unsuccessful attempts had been made with the hand or gun harpoon to capture these large and active animals, and it was not until the invention and perfection of the explosive harpoon that their capture became easy. Owing to its weight a gun of large size is required to throw the harpoon, and in turn a craft of considerable size is required to carry the gun. The harpoon bears a shell containing flb. of powder and weighs 1231bs. The gun, 41• inches thick at the muzzle and 3 inches bore, weighs 15cwt. The vessel answering the purpose of whale-boat is a steamer 100 feet in length with a speed of 12-15 knots. It is used not only for carrying the gun and pursuing the whales, but also for towing the bodies of the animals when dead to the " factory " on shore where the operation of " flensing " is performed. The use of a vessel too large to be lowered from a ship's side, and too small to operate independently, restricts the use of the explosive harpoon, as above described, to inshore waters.
Having employed this method for a number of years against the whales frequenting the waters of their own fiords, the Norwegians began about the year 1890 to find the number of whales decreasing. Moreover, the Storthing in 1903 passed a law prohibiting whaling in Norwegian waters altogether. Unable to carry on this method of whaling in the open sea, except near shore bases, the Norwegians began to look for other fields, and especially for anchorages in the vicinity of waters frequented by the whales. Suitable bases were found in Ice- land, the Farces, the Shetlands, the Hebrides, the West Coast 'of Ireland, Newfoundland, South Africa, and in other parts of the world. Of these by far the most important are those situated in South Georgia and the South Shetlands—British possessions and dependencies of the Falkland Islands. Operations were begun at South Georgia in 1904 and at the South Shetlands in 1905. Since then the industry has undergone enormous expansion. A rise in the price of whale oil from £20 per ton before the war to £60 at present has largely contributed to this result. The whales captured are the Blue Whale, yielding 10-12 tons of oil ; the Razor-back, yielding 6-8 tons ; and the Hump-back, yield- ing 4-6 tons each.
In South Georgia factories have been erected on the shore where the whales are " flensed," and where the oil is extracted from the blubber. In the South Shetlands, which are ice- bound except during the summer months, large steamers with the necessary apparatus on board are anchored in the harbours. During the nine seasons ending 1917-1918, 44,800 whales were killed at South Georgia, and during the seven seasons ending 1917-18, 27,000 were killed at South Shetland. The oil obtained amounted to 3,200,000 barrels, valued at £10,500,000 sterling. The figures above quoted are unprecedented, and the question arises : how long can the industry be carried on at its present pace, and what is the danger of the stock of whales being exhausted ? It can hardly be doubted that animals which reach a length of nearly 100ft. and a weight of nearly 100 tons, as some of these cetaceans do, require many years to reach maturity. The larger whales are by no means prolific animals, bearing only one, or at the most two, offspring at a time. The period of gestation is uncertain, but it can hardly be short, as the calf is relatively large at birth. The period of lactation is also unknown.
The history of the whaling industry shows that the un- restricted capture of whales wherever it has occurred has always been followed by a permanent diminution in the number of whales, the industry, or that particular branch of it, falling into decay. At present leases and licences are only issued to a limited number of factories and whalers. It appears, however, desir- able to limit the number of whales killed, otherwise the stock of whales must sooner or later be depleted, and this particular branch of the whaling industry, like so many others, will decline.
In the seventeenth century, the right to use the harbours of Spitsbergen was very highly prized by the English and Dutch whalers. Disputes arose in which the respective Governments took part and which more than once almost ended in war. In the Antarctic Seas rights which are undoubtedly of great value have been granted to the Norwegians. Should British whalers wish to take part in this very profitable industry, they will find that leases have been granted to the Norwegians and that years must elapse before these leases expire. Under these circum- stances, the resuscitation of the British whaling industry— which seems desirable—may be a very difficult matter.
In the absence of suitable harbours, the capture of the larger cetaceans has to be undertaken by vessels operating in the open sea. Only vessels of moderate size can be employed. The whales must be approached in boats and only the lightest gear can be used. The blubber has to be removed and dealt with at sea, and until these operations are completed the vessel is unable to resume " fishing " operations. Where, however, convenient harbours can be used, the procedure becomes greatly simplified. Heavier gear and larger craft can be employed, the captured whales can be towed into smooth water, where the blubber can be removed and converted into oil at leisure. Under these favourable circumstances the whales can be captured and disposed of at an alarming rate. The whales are often killed outright by the Norwegian harpoon. Several are towed into port at a time. The blubber is quickly stripped off the dead animals, and their carcases left to encumber the shore Can it be wondered at if our " preserves " in Southern waters speedily become depleted ?
Is it too late to enter a plea on behalf of those unfortunate mammals the seals and whales ? Inhabiting the open sea or the shores of remote and unfrequented regions, and yielding commodities of great value, they have been hunted with little or no restriction. Seldom have measures been taken to ensure their protection. On the contrary, we see facilities being given which render their capture easier than would otherwise be possible.
The discovery of new lands and new waters frequented by seals and whales and the application of improved methods cif capture have always been followed by their increased slaughter. In each case the unhappy animals are brought a stage nearer to extermination. Amongst the whales, no species have suffered more than the Greenland Whale and the Atlantic Right Whale. Very heavy toll has also been taken of the Sperm Whale. Amongst the seals, tremendous inroads have been made into the stock of the Hair Seals of the North Atlantic, while the more valuable Fur Seals of the South Atlantic have ceased to exist.
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