Antarctic Whaling Research Articles

British Antarctic Whaling Upsets Japanese Hopes

British Antarctic Whaling Upsets Japanese Hopes

British Antarctic Whaling Upsets Japanese Hopes

British Antarctic Whaling Upsets Japanese Hopes

Antarctic Whaling, 1938–39

The most striking feature of the pelagic operations in the season 1938–39 was the great decline in the catch in spite of the employment of three factory ships and twenty-six catchers more than in the previous season.

Whales and Whaling International Conference

UNTIL some ten years ago, modern whaling was conducted almost entirely from land stations, and the most important centres of the industry were in British territorial waters where suitable regulations could be enforced. The development of the modern factory ship led to a great expansion of the industry in the form of unrestricted whaling on the high seas, and the operations extended over a vast area in the Antarctic. The Governments of those nations most interested in whaling realized that unlimited hunting must eventually cause depletion of the stock and the collapse of the industry. An International Conference was therefore held in June 1937, and an agreement was signed by representatives of the Union of South Africa, the United States of America, the Argentine, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Irish Free State, New Zealand and Norway. By the terms of this agreement, measures were taken for the restriction of whaling, including the imposition of a minimum size limit for various species, the limitation of the Antarctic whaling season to three months, and, with minor reservations, the prohibition of pelagic whaling north of 40° S.

Antarctic Whaling

In most of the years subsequent to the undue expansion of the season 1930–81, mutual agreements were reached between the whaling companies of most of the nations interested in whaling, whereby production was restricted. Owing partly to novel factors, including the increased number of nations participating in the industry, labour friction, and, most fundamental, the rapid rise in the price of whale oil, the achievement of any such arrangement for the season 1936–37 proved unusually difficult. The British and Norwegian Governments, accordingly, arrived at regulations binding on the nationals of each. These regulations curtailed Antarctic pelagic whaling to three months' duration commencing December 1; and in the course of discussion the factory ships to be employed were designated by name, and stations which should operate, and prescribed the number of catchers each might employ, and factory ships (with a few insignificant exceptions) working in the Antarctic were prohibited from operating also between the Equator and Lat. 40° S. These regulations did not affect Japanese or German whaling. The fleet, notwithstanding the limitations, was larger than in any other year since 1930. It included the powerful new factory, Terje Viken, under the British flag, equipped entirely with mechanical boilers; two Japanese and one German factory, and totalled in all thirty ships, served by 173 catchers; but for the regulations many more catchers would have been employed. It is noteworthy that for the first time since the revival of Southern whaling, of the men employed, some 700 were of British nationality. The production of oil was over 2,600,000 barrels or 430,000 tons.

On the Building of Whaling Tanker “Nisshin Maru.”

The antarctic whaling tanker, “Nisshin Maru” (22, 000 tons deadweight) was successfully built on 28 th Sept. '36 by the Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd., Kobe, in the record of only 216 days from laying down of the keel to the delivery to Messrs. Taiyohogei Kabushiki Kaisha.The vessel is the largest tanker of its kind ever built in Japan, and the following dates indicate the extraordinary speedy program at which she was built in such a short period.The contract signed 28 th, November, 1935.The keel laid 26 th, February, 1936.The launching 1 st, August, 1936.The official trials 14 th, September, 1936.The Delivery 28 th, September, 1936.There were many difficulties which they had to overcome, such as : difficult construction on an ordinary building slip not well arranged with up-to-date crane equipments, unusual short time limit of construction, and hardship of prompt collection of materials, etc.They laid down therefore a strict schedule so as not to delay the delivery and by good luck, it was faithfully obeyed by the men of all departments of the Dockyard Co.Combined with the mutual co-operation of all men and proper supply of all necessary materials, the schedule was very satisfactorily carried out in good order.On the other hand, special attention wa so pa to the working hours as well as labour shifts so that the workmen should not be overworked either mentally or physically.Thus their earnest efforts have at last produced good results with such an epoch-making record of speedy ship building which has never been experienced in the world.In addition, this vessel adopted the “Isherwood Bracketless system, ” the simplicity of which has proved a good effect upon such a quick work as “Nisshin Maru.” The principal dimensions are as follows : Length over all…550'-0''Length between perpendiculars…535'-0''Breadth moulded…74'-0''Depth moulded to upper deck…48'-9''Load draught…34'-25/16''Gross tonnage…16, 764 tonsDeadweight…22, 000 tonsMaximum speed…14'5 knots

Antarctic Whaling, 1935–36

By mutual agreement of the two countries British and Norwegian pelagic whaling in the Antarctic (with which for whaling purposes South Georgian waters are included) during the season 1935–36 was limited to the period December 1, 1935, to March 15, 1936. The only factory ship not limited in her operations by this restriction was the Japanese Tonan Maru, ex Antarctic, then operating under her new flag for the second time. The pelagic season was thus limited to 106 days. In actual fact many ships ceased working before March 15; two factories had reached Norway before the end of March, and nine by the middle of April. It is hoped that the curtailment of season, and in particular the later start ensured, will have afforded useful protection to the stock, particularly that of the most valuable species, the Blue whale, which is at present the most menaced by intensive whaling.

Antarctic Whaling

Whaling in the Antarctic, during the 1934–35 season, will be carried out on a scale comparable with that of the record season of three years ago. A large fleet, consisting of over twenty factory ships and some 140 whale catchers, and totalling approximately 270,000 tons, has left for the Antarctic whaling grounds, equipped with the most modern harpoon guns and refineries. The following are the names of some of the factory ships taking part: Antarctic, Hektoria, Kosmos II, Lancing, New Seville, Ole Wegger, Pelagos, Salvestria, Sir James Clark Ross, Skytteren, Solglimt, Southern Empress, Southern Princess, Sourabaya, Star 2, Star 12, Strombus, Suderoy, Svend Foyn, Tafelberg, Thorshammer, Torodd and Vestfold. All the more modern ships are equipped with oil-burning engines with the exception of Sir James Clark Ross, which is motor-driven.

Antarctic Whaling Season, 1932–33

Antarctic Whaling Season, 1932–33

Antarctic Whaling Season, 1932–33

Antarctic Whaling Season, 1932–33

Whaling and Fishing in the North Atlantic

IN the autumn of 1923 the Norwegian Government appointed a whaling committee, under the chairmanship of Dr Johan Hjort, to carry out a scientific study of whaling and of the various factors in the sea which govern the life and migrations of whales. This committee at once approached the British Discovery Committee with a proposal that the two bodies should co-operate in this work. As a result of the negotiations which followed, it was agreed that, at any rate to begin with, the best arrangement would be for the Discovery to operate on the Antarctic whaling grounds, especially those worked from the Falkland Islands Dependencies, while the Norwegian investigators concentrated upon work in the North Atlantic.

Antarctic whaling and exploration

Antarctic whaling and exploration

Antarctic whaling and exploration

(1929). Antarctic whaling and exploration. Scottish Geographical Magazine: Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 23-34.

The Exploitation of the Sea-Fisheries

THE sea-fisheries as a source of food was the subject of an interesting series of letters published by the Times between February 8 and 18. First of all, Dr. W. S. Bruce directed attention to the abund ance of whales and seals in Antarctic seas, and in quired whether Lord Rhondda and “the National Service” had sought advice about all this. Ought not “canning factories and refrigerating vessels to be started immediately in the rich Antarctic whaling grounds”? There are, he stated, whale meat there which “is better to eat and tastes better than beef”; seals and penguins, also an additional meat supply; and “millions and millions of new-laid penguin eggs, larger and better than hen's eggs.” Other correspondents supported these remarks, but they did not suggest where the canning factories and refrigerating vessels were to be constructed, nor did they show that it was sounder economics to send fishermen and large vessels, to high Antarctic latitudes rather than employ men and small motor-driven vessels to obtain the fish that is plentifull enough just now a few miles away from our own shores.

Geographical Notes

LETTERS dated March 9 have been received from the Antarctic whaling vessels confirming and extending the brief telegraphic information already published. The ships did not proceed farther south than 67° latitude, and discovered no signs of the existence of the Greenland whale, although whales of several other Species were common, and there were great numbers of grampuses. In default of whaling, the energy of he crews was devoted to sealing, and the four vessels secured between them about 16,000 skins and a full cargo of oil. The seals were of several varieties, but until the return of the ships their species cannot be determined, nor their commercial value known. The weather throughout the whole stay in Antarctic waters was severe, and the formation of ice compelled the vessels to return at an earlier date than was at first intended. Flat icebergs of enormous size were seen, one being reported as fifty Miles in length. The facilities afforded for scientific work were disappointing.