:
That when adequate information becomes available concerning the migration routes and seasons in localities where land stations are maintained and operated, specific annual open periods for whaling should be prescribed instead of the regulation included in the Schedule as paragraph 10. It is the view of the Conference that the Commission should endeavour to obtain at the earliest possible time scientific information as a basis for prescribing specific seasons during which land stations shall be permitted to operate in the various areas.
IX
.
At the request of the Delegation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the following statements are included:
1. Owing to unforeseen circumstances the Soviet factory ship will be unable to reach the whaling grounds by the commencement of the 1946-47 .season in waters south of 40° South Latitude. Accordingly the Delegation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics request that this ship be permitted to operate with a full complement of catchers for a continuous period of four months from the date on which it is able to commence operations in that area. Note is made that a similar concession was made to other Governments for the season 1945-46.
2. The Delegation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also requests that the factory ship be permitted to conduct operations in that area for the four-month period during the season 1946-47, without regard to the sixteen thousand blue-whale unit catch limitation.
The Conference supports these requests and considers them justified in the special circumstances. It is understood that support by the Conference of these requests shall not be regarded as a precedent for future seasons.
X
The International Whaling Conference
SUPPORTS:
And considers justified the request of the Delegation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics that the taking of gray whales in the Bering and Chukotsk seas should be permitted when the meat and products of such whales are to be used exclusively for local consumption by the aborigines of the Chukotsk and Korjaksk areas.
XI
The International Whaling Conference
RECOGNIZES:
The desirability of achieving a large measure of uniformity among the various Contracting Governments with respect to the nature and severity of penalties imposed, for contraventions of the Convention, upon persons or ships operating under their jurisdiction. It recognizes that even under the most favourable management and with the most conscientious and experienced gunners and crews, it is inevitable that some whales will be taken illegally and that a certain latitude should be allowed in assessing penalties for such unavoidable taking. It may be that legal and administrative differences among the Contracting Governments will prevent the adoption of a uniform system of penalties, but it is the view of the Conference that it is desirable
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that the Governments should provide for the imposition of penalties sufficiently severe to discourage the illegal killing or taking of whales.
The Conference accordingly recommends that the Commission should studypthe reports regarding infractions made to them in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, 4, of the Convention, with a view to making recom- mendations to Governments as provided for in Article VI of the Convention for the purpose of achieving the greatest possible uniformity in the penalties imposed for contraventions of the Convention.
In witness whereof, the following representatives sign this Final Act.
Done in Washington, this second day of December, 1946, in the English language, the original of which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America. The Government of the United States of America shall transmit certified copies thereof to all the other Governments represented at the Conference.
•
[Here follow the signatures of the Plenipotentiary and Observer Delegates.]
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