LIMIT IMPOSED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 24, 24 December 1932, Page 7

LIMIT IMPOSED.

WHALING OPERATIONS IN THE ANTARCTIC. Whaling operations in the Antarctic aro to he severely restricted this season, following upon a close season last year owing to the fact that the surplus stock of oil produced from the previous intensive exploitation made further work unprofitable. Toward the end of last year, 26 countries signed the International Whaling Convention at Geneva, New Zealand being one of the signatories. In addition to this an agreement has been reached by practically all the companies operating in the Antarctic to restrict whaling operations there this season. Each company is to bo restricted to a quota corresponding to the mean between its production in 1930-31, and the loading capacity of its floating factory or the productive capacity of its land station, less 38 per cent. For tho purpose of encouraging the fullest possible use of carcases, quotas have been calculated on the basis of both barreV and whales, each blue whale, Tor instance, being calculated to yield 110 barrels of oil. As the result of the agreement, the catch Of all companies subscribing to the terms laid down will not exceed 1,931,000 barrels. A recent estimate stated that, including tho catch of one company which had not entered into the agreement at that date, the total yield of oil would not exceed 2,000,000 barrels, or about 50 per cent, of tho present capacity. Any oil taken by a company in excess of its quota is to be sold for the benefit of all parties to tho agreement, which also provides that until May 1, 1933, np company shall sell or rent out for tho purpose of whaling, land stations, floating factories, or catches to non-signatories, unless tho latter accept the conditions imposed. It is considered by those connected with the whale-oil industry that these restrictions will ultimately be most beneficial, for apart from the present commercial aspects relating to prices, it is held that the restricted catches will go a long way toward preserving the species. Much concern has been expressed in recent years owing to the vast toll on whales taken bv whalers in tho Antarctic, and fears nave been expressed that tho numbers would be unduly depleted. The signing of the Geneva Convention will, it is believed, do much to rationalise whale catching and prevent indiscriminate operations which might ultimately destroy the source of supply.