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7 May 1914.]
WHALING COMMITTEE:
Dr. JOHAN HJORT.
it would limit the number of whales killed, but it would also ensure the full utilisation of the whole of the carcase of the whale; in other words, it would be economical because it would prevent the wastage of something of some value, which, by killing and non. utilisation, is really a loss. I do not know if you would agree that it might be of advantage in that way, both for economy and to avoid waste, and because it would also indirectly limit the number of whales killed ?-It is, of course, the ideal thing, and I quite agree so far; but, whether you can impose a measure of that kind on a special industry, that depends on how strong the measure is, and on the situation of the special industry. Take South Shetlands. It is a most important problem for the South Shetlands, I suppose; it is a vital ques- tion for an existing industry there. If I have bought a ship which cost me 700,000 or 1,000,000 kroner, and I have then, because of a new regulation, to turn that boat out and buy a new boat, it ruins me completely,
[Continued.
of course. It is such a special problem, and I am not expert enough to answer the question.
802. I may say it was suggested by a representative of the industry, who, I think, having adopted economic methods of working himself, wished to force all in the industry to adopt them; and, in the long run, he thought it would be in the interest of all employed in the industry, because the number of whales would be sustained better P-I believe you will understand, from my point of view, that I am obliged to answer this proposal in this way: that I would be very thankful to the Committee if they would ask the opinion of the whalers themselves upon it.
803. I quite understand. We had this anggeation from a British representative of whaling. Do you think the Norwegian industry would be willing to send & representative to this Committee?-Yes. They are partly dealing with this problem in the letter which is being written to you to-day.
The Witness withdrew.
Explanatory Note by Dr. Hjort.
Following Mr. Frederick W. True (on the nomencla. ture of the whalebone whales in the tenth edition of Linnuus Systema Natura, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. XXI., 1898). I feel obliged to use the name Bulaenoptera mins-
culus L. instead of B. Sibbaldi for the Blue whale, and the name Balaenoptera physalus L instead of B. musculus for the Fin whale. The latest authors, e.g., E. Racovitza and R. Collett have also followed Mr. True in this respect.
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE
ON
WHALING AND THE PROTECTION OF WHALES.
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX I.
Letter from the SOUTHERN CROSS WHALING COMPANY, LIMITED. Mutual of New York Building,
DEAR SIR,
St. George's Street, Cape Town,
25th April, 1914.
We have had brought to our notice by our agents-Mesure. D. Geddes & Son, Glasgow-the fact that there is a Committee to sit to consider the question for the protection of whales and the regulation of the whaling industry, and that you invite communications from those persons desirons of bringing their views to the notice of your Committee.
The above Company, which I represent, has now been whaling in South African waters for two years. We have a land station on an uninhabited portion of the coast about 80 miles east of Cape Town. We em ploy two up-to-date steam whalers.
I have personally studied the life and habits of whales for a very considerable period, and have been able to prove from such observations many points that most people in the whaling industry were in doubt about.
For instance, the ordinary whales, such as the Fin- back, Sei, or Humpback, which frequent these shores in large numbers, breed annually one calf. This I have studied very carefully and have kept records which prove it. The whales in the early season are in calf, measuring 13 to 15 ft. These whales return about six months later with calves 20 to 25 ft. suckling, and the mother is again in calf, specimens of which I have pre- served. I am of opinion that a whale, like a cow, grown very rapidly, and when fully matured, in possibly five years' time, would add very little to its size.
The public think that, on account of the modern means now adopted for whaling, that whales are likely to be wiped out, but, knowing from personal experience the difficulty it is to get alongside a whale to take a shot at it, the whale is not likely to become scarce. You may chase for hours and never be able to get with. in striking distance, while the numbers are so great in the small area in which we work, about 50 miles radius, that the quantity in the ocean outside our area must be enormous and quite impossible to exterminate, while 100 miles off the coast, where the large Blue whale is met with, they are so very difficult to catch that very few are secured.
Sperm whales, who feed on octopus in deep water, when met with are generally travelling south, and our boats have been amongst 300 or 400 at a time, the most we were able to secure being four. Old Sperms are occasionally met with a long way ont in ones or twos; the younger ones remain together.
Taking into consideration the number of whaling stations there are on the coast throughout the world. and marking off same on a map of the world, say, of the size of 6 ft. square, the area worked round such land stations would not be more than the size of the point of a pencil, and, taking into consideration the enormous expanse of ocean in which the whales are free to come and go, and where they follow their food, again proves there is no possibility of killing them off anything like as fast as they breed, for there must be millions of
whales that have never been within sight of a land station or floating factory, and therefore, as their exter- mination is impossible, it seems ridiculous to talk about protection any more than protecting herrings or other fish which are netted in millions annually.
Steam trawlers were years ago condemned by the old fishers as wiping out the fish, but there is no less now, but actually more fish, to be caught.
Various South African gentlemen have held the opinion that whales would be exterminated, and several have been invited by us to make a trip on a whaling expedition for a few days, and have been unanimous in the alteration of their opinion chiefly on account of the elusiveness of the whale. Sometimes in a small area thirty or forty whales would be met, but it would be impossible to shoot one. I would also like to point out the advantage of a land station to a country. There is the expenditure of money on labour, the purchase of food stuffs, clothing, and renewal of machinery, coal, and water supplies, and such a factory in this country is a very valuable asset, and while the whale is of no value when in the ocean, it becomes of value of a con- siderable amount to the community at large so soon as it is landed, and the fertilizers are a valuable assistance to any country; while in the water it is of value to no one, and you cannot make pets of them.
I do not know who the representative for South Africa on your Committee will be, but I certainly hope he will gain practical experience of the whaling indus- try before he leaves these shores, and we shall make it our business to get him to accompany one of our whalers for a few days so that he would speak with more knowledge of the facts, as the want of practical know- ledge would be disastrous, and any legislation to be made law that would handicap what is at present a not too profitable business would be fatal to us all. While no benefit would be gained even if the whole of the whaling industry throughout the world was prohibited. it would close down a trade in which several millions are invested, and no country would be prepared to pay compensation for the amount of damage sustained by such action. We are a legitimate industry with long leases granted by our Government, who take a big toll of our profits.
Most floating factories and land stations through- out the world close down for a period, approximately four months, every year on account of the whales at that time being soarce in their locality; they come and go the same as fish.
In this part whales are scarce in our hottest months: November, December, January, February, and March: and during these months we do not catch.
Yours faithfully,
THE SOUTHERN CROSS WHALING Co.. LTD.
F. Cook.
Managing Director.
Inter-departmental Whaling Committee,
The Secretary,
Colonial Office.
Downing Street.
London.
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WHALING COMMITTEE: