economic resources of the benguela current 275 



Whales 

 At the beginning of this century some experimental whaling was started in South African waters, and 

 so encouraging were the initial reports that by 191 2 some twenty-five companies joined in the quest 

 from the Congo right round to the east coast (Olsen, 1915). Land stations were built, and on the 

 west coast these have operated from time to time at Cape Lopez, Lobito Bay, Elephant Bay, Mos- 

 samedes, Port Alexandria, Tiger Bay, Walvis Bay, Luderitz Bay and Saldanha Bay. 



Initially this whaling was based on the humpback whale. It appears, however, from the successes 

 of various stations and the failure of others that the original theories concerning the migrations of the 

 humpback up the west coast were open to question. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that 

 the humpbacks, on their northward route from the antarctic, do not arrive at the Cape and progress 

 steadily up the Benguela, but rather that they avoid the cold waters of the current and keep well out 

 to sea, only striking the coast as far north as Portuguese West Africa. Blue whales, fin whales and 

 sei whales are taken at Saldanha Bay, but rarely at the stations north of the Benguela current. Catches 

 of sperm whales at Saldanha Bay have increased in recent years, but it appears that they are mostly 

 found at some distance from the coast. 



The small scale of the whaling in the Benguela waters suggests that the current does not form a 

 particularly attractive environment for whales. This of course may be because the whalebone whales 

 in these more northerly latitudes are seeking warmer waters for breeding rather than feeding. It is 

 rather surprising, however, that there appear to be so few sperm whales in the Benguela current. The 

 catches shown in the statistics are poor, and Townsend's charts (1935) also show that very few sperm 

 whales were taken in the Benguela waters. Indeed, these charts showing sperm whales taken to the 

 north of the Benguela, to the west in the south-east trade wind drift and to the south, create the 

 impression that the sperm whale also must specifically avoid the cold coastal waters. These records of 

 the varying intensity of whaling in different areas do not necessarily represent the density of the whale 

 population, and they are coloured by the preference of the whalers for specific types of whale, but 

 nevertheless they are strongly suggestive. 



It is more difficult to interpret this avoidance of the Benguela current by the sperm whales than by 

 the whalebone whales. The latter, we know, feed in the Antarctic, but for the former one might expect 

 the rich waters of the Benguela to be an attractive feeding-ground. One can only presume that if the 

 picture created by these records is correct, then there must be some other factor, such as the absence 

 of suitable food organisms, etc., which makes the current unfavourable for the sperm whale. 



Guano Islands 

 The fertile waters of the Benguela current, with their abundant stocks of fish, support enormous 

 populations of sea birds. Practically every rocky promontory and island along the coast is densely 

 inhabited by birds during the nesting-season. The relatively favourable climate with a markedly low 

 rainfall has, in places where the topography has been suitable, led to considerable accretions of guano. 

 Perhaps the most renowned deposits are found on the island of Ichabo (26 17' S.) about which an 

 anonymous writer (obscurely described as ex-member of committee, 1845) quotes the following 



humorous poem: 



There's an island that lies on West Africa's shore, 



Where penguins have lived since the flood or before, 



And raised up a hill there, a mile high or more. 



This hill is all guano, and lately 'tis shown 



That finer potatoes and turnips are grown 



By means of this compost, than ever were known ; 



