260 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



from the position of marking on the Enderby Land grounds, shows that the return to 

 the same region may occur there as around South Georgia. This whale was among those 

 marked between 22 January and 2 February 1935, as described above in the discussion 

 of the o-Group, and one cannot escape the suggestion that this particular whale was 

 performing for a second time the westward movement from Enderby Land. On the other 

 hand, two other Blue whales (Nos. 2816, 2892), marked about the same time in January 

 1935, were killed on the ground around 90 E. Thus there must be a considerable flow 

 of Blue whales eastwards from Enderby Land, but, as it has already been shown that 

 such a movement is apparently unusual during the season, it is presumably accomplished 

 by an eastward movement during the southern winter and in lower latitudes. A third 

 whale (No. 2026), marked a season later than the two above and in a position farther 

 west, corroborates this movement and suggests that it may be a regular one from season 

 to season. Although the disposition of the factory ships throughout several seasons 

 suggests there are different and distinct whaling grounds off Enderby Land and about 

 90 E, off Queen Mary Land (Hvalradets Skrifter, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 18), these recoveries 

 demonstrate that Blue whales on the two grounds are of identical stock and move freely 

 from one region to another. 



The 2-Group whales further strengthen this view (Plate L). After an interval of 

 two years whales are to be found on the same grounds (Nos. 2525, 5261), whether off 

 Enderby Land or about 90 E. Also whales have moved during this period from the 

 westerly ground to the easterly one (Nos. 3528, 5800). There is, however, as yet no 

 evidence of a return movement from east to west. 



The 3-Group is still negligible in number, only one whale (No. 2548) falling into this 

 category, but this shows the persistent attractions of the original ground (Plate LI). 

 Wherever this whale may have been during the 1100 days between marking and capture 

 it may be considered to have returned to the area where it was marked, for only 470 miles 

 separate the positions of marking and capture. 



Marks from two Blue whales have been returned in the 4-Group, both from the Weddell 

 Sea-South Georgia region (Plate LII), and they emphasize the conclusion drawn from 

 the earlier groups ; in fact, they show a remarkable similarity to the 1 -Group in this area. 

 One of these two whales (No. 1123/25) may be considered to demonstrate the return to 

 the area of marking, for such movement as there is has been shown to take place during 

 the course of a season. It is quite possible that this Blue whale actually passed close to 

 South Georgia earlier in the season of its capture on its way to the position near the 

 South Orkneys where it was taken. The second whale (No. 2537) extends the connexion 

 between Bouvet Island and South Georgia shown by the movement of No. 10427/31 in 

 the 1 -Group. Mark No. 2537 was fired almost due south of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 not very far from No. 2026; this mark, returned in the 1 -Group, was recovered almost 

 on 90 E. Marks Nos. 2537 and 2026 alone may be considered to show a general 

 identity of Blue whale stocks between the grounds around South Georgia and those off 

 Queen Mary Land. 



