coast.
46
killed, as a great proportion of them keep close in, following the outline of the On the other hand, the practice of throwing away the carcases would probably increase, owing to the difficulties which would ensue from working in a sea way.
F. E. K. STRONG,
7399
No. 19.
Lieutenant and Commander.
WORLD'S PRODUCTION OF WHALE OIL.
+
TRANSLATED FROM THE NORWEGIAN QUARTERLY OVERSIGT OVER DE VIGTIGSTE NORSKE HVALFANGERSELSKAPER," May, 1912, AND SUPPLEMENTED FROM THE NUMBER FOR December, 1912,
Whale oil is produced by the boiling of whales' blubber, flesh entrails, and fins. Oil of quality No. 1 is produced from the blubber of fresh whales; when it is specially fine it is called No. 0. There are also inferior qualities—No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4.
The world's production (except Japan) is estimated at:-
47
The price of whale oil, No. 1, was, in 1744, £10; in 1754, £30; in 1801, £50; 1807, £20; in 1813, £55 to £60.
The variations in the prices of whale oil from month to month are well known. Uses of whale oil: as a substitute for vegetable oils, especially in the soap industry; for burning oil (especially in place of colza), in ropemaking, and for machine lubrication.
COLONIAL OFFICE NOTE :-
The best quality appears to be considerably used in the manufacture of margarine.
In general the fluctuations in the price of whale oil correspond closely with those in the price of the vegetable oils for which it is a substitute, particularly linseed, cotton-seed, and rape seed oils. There is a diagram (not reproduced here) in the original which shows this correspondence in a striking manner.
8248
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mwimwi C.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
1908
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
Tons.
about 13,000
>
21,200
"
25,000
38,100
2)
51,500
It
103,000
19
115,000 to 135,000
Of the 1911 production about 50,000 barrels (8,300 tons) was derived from the northern fields of Europe and about 100,000 barrels (16,600 tons) from North America. Norway's share was about 350,000 barrels (60,000 tons),
It will be seen how negligible is the production of whale oil compared with that of vegetable oils. If the estimate for 1911, which is very accurate, be taken, it will be seen that the output of whale oil only reaches 6 per cent. of that of linseed or cotton-seed oils from the principal countries. If regard be had to rape, soya, olive, and all the other kinds of vegetable oil, the proportion of whale oil will become almost negligible. Even double the output of 1911 would only bear a very small proportion to the total world's production of vegetable oils. It would only serve to make whale oil a better-known product, and increased output would, no doubt. be of considerable assistance for this purpose.
We add a table of average prices for whale oil in £ per ton, delivered at Glasgow or London, for 27 years past : —
Whale Oil.
Whale Oil.
Year.
Year.
No. 1.
No. 4.
No. 1.
No. 4.
£
+
£
1911
16
1897
16/15
9
1910
IS
1896
16/10
9/15
1909
11
1895
1908
14/10
1894
1907
16/10
1893
20
1906
19
13
1802
17
1905
15
9/10
1891
1904
16
11
1890
1903
19
13/10
1889
12
1902
20
16
i 1888
20
11
1901
20
13
! 1887
18
10
1300
IG
1586
18
10
1899
16/10
11
1885
25
16
1808
16/5
8/10
22
SIR,
No. 20.
AUSTRALIA.
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 10 March, 1913.)
(Confidential.)
Governor-General's Oflice, Melbourne,
1st February, 1913. REFERRING to your Confidential despatch dated 11th July, 1912,* covering copy of correspondence with the Foreign Office in regard to a proposal that steps should be taken with a view to convening an International Conference to consider the question of the protection and preservation of whales, I have the honour to inform you that I am advised by my Prime Minister that the Government concurs in the proposal that restrictive measures are desirable for the prevention of excessive destruction of whales. In the opinion of the Department of Trade and Customs the modern appliances for the capture of whales are so efficient as to threaten possible extermination in countries where fishing is not regulated.
I have, &c.,
9427
No. 21.
DENMAN,
Governor-General.
INTERESTS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN THE WHALING INDUSTRY. SUMMARY OF Replies reCEIVED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE FROM HIS MAJESTY'S REPRESENTATIVES ABROAD.
Those countries which are believed to have practically no interests in the whaling industry are first enumerated :-
Austria-Hungary.
Belgium.
Bulgaria.
Greece.
Holland.
Italy.
Roumania.
Russia. †Sweden.
Turkey.
China.
Persia.
Siam.
Egypt. Morocco. Zanzibar
Costa Rica. Cuba. Guatemala. Hayti. †Colombia. Ecuador.
† Uruguay.
Venezuela.
Further particulars with regard to the countries marked † are given below:
The average price for the 27 years works out at £19 for No. 1.
• No. 7.