WHALE MARKING 249 



penetrating the blubber no more than z\ in., was quickly rejected. When it was realized 

 that this mark must be looked upon as a failure several other patterns were considered, 

 but they all lacked simplicity of structure, making their cost of production prohibitive. 

 Finally, in 1932, a most suitable form was designed consisting only of a metal tube with 

 a leaden head, of sufficient diameter to fit a 12-bore gun, giving the necessary ballistic 

 balance. The tube, 10 in. long, was made of aluminium and fitted into the cartridge 

 carrying the charge, so enabling loading to be accomplished with facility and speed. 

 Along the tube were engraved the words, "Reward for return to Colonial Office, 

 London", and a serial number. This mark was designed to bury itself completely in 

 the blubber and to be found when the whale was flensed upon the factory "plan". 



In an experimental trial with these marks around South Georgia during the season 

 1932—33 more than 200 whales were marked in three weeks. From these whales several 

 marks were recovered during that season, and still further ones were found and 

 returned the next season. These later recoveries showed that whilst the aluminium used 

 in the construction of the tubes suffered some corrosion during the time it was carried 

 by the whale, the method and design of the mark were satisfactory. To overcome the 

 difficulty of corrosion stainless steel (" Staybrite ") was substituted for the aluminium. 

 An extensive marking programme was then planned and executed using this form of 

 mark, which has continued to be very satisfactory. It is easy to handle quickly when 

 shooting and considerable accuracy can be attained up to a range of 70-80 yds. or even 

 more. Normally the marks are retained and, although no doubt some escape detection 

 when the whale is processed, they are readily found by the whalers. With the use of 

 stainless steel no corrosion whatever takes place, even after some years, and the 

 engraved number on the mark is thus always legible. 



The guns used are single-barrelled 12-bore weapons of a modified Webley design. 

 They are of straightforward construction, but strengthened in the breech and barrel to 

 carry the heavy projectile. 



PRACTICAL METHODS AT SEA 



As already stated, the 'William Scoresby' was built on the lines of a modern whale- 

 catcher for the primary purpose of serving as a whale-marking vessel. A description of 

 the ship and her gear has been given in detail by Kemp and Hardy (1929), but one 

 or two further remarks may be added. As explained by these authors a fo'c'sle head was 

 added to the vessel's bows in 1927, and this has proved to be of the very greatest service 

 during her whale-marking cruises. Indeed, it is very doubtful if more than an insigni- 

 ficant number of whales could have been marked without this superstructure. The 

 marking was done entirely from the platform offered by the deck of the fo'c'sle head, 

 a position roomy and well placed, giving a good angle of fire down on to the whale. At 

 the outset of the marking programme a light gangway was constructed running fore and 

 aft from the main bridge to the fo'c'sle head. This offered easy and rapid access from the 

 bridge to the shooting position, avoiding the necessity of descending to the main deck, 



