Whales.

Attempt to Regulate Antarctic Killing.

Because the enormous production of whale oil is one of the factors which have led to low copra prices, the position of the whale-oil industry is always of interest to coconut plantens. We have been doing what we can to encourage international action to put an end to whale slaughter in the Antarctic. The follow ing letter, from the Prime Minister’s Depart ment, to the editor of this journal, is self explanatory : With reference to your letter of the 16th February, addressed to the Hon. C. W. C. Marr, in which it is suggested that international action might be taken by Australia to regulate the whaling industry and prevent the extermination of whales, I am directed to inform you that, at the Twelfth Assembly of the League of Nations on 24th September, 1931, a Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was adopted and signed, amongst other States, on behalf of Australia.

The Convention has now been ratified by seven States, and will come into operation as soon as notice of ratification has been issued by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.

Briefly, the Convention requires parties, within the limits of their jurisdicton to enforce:— (a) The prohibition of the killing of “right” whales, calves or suckling whales, immature whales and female whales accompanied by calves or suckling whales. (b) The fullest use to be made of the carcases of whales. (c) Regulation of the terms of employment of gunners and crews of whaling vessels. (d) Licensing or certification of notification of whaling vessels by the country whose flag they fly. (e) Communication of certain statistical infor mation to the Bureau at Oslo.

Yours faithfully,

J. R. Halligan.

For Secretary.

Canberra, 10/4/33.