ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND MOVEMENTS 



OF WHALES ON THE SOUTH GEORGIA AND 



SOUTH SHETLAND WHALING GROUNDS 



By Stanley Kemp, Sc.D., f.r.s., and A. G. Bennett 

 (Plates VII-XLII; text-figs. i-6) 



INTRODUCTION 



IN the year 1922 the Government of the Falkland Islands issued to the whaling 

 companies operating under licence in the Dependencies a form designed to give 

 information on the distribution and movements of whales in the whaling areas. The 

 companies were asked to give the approximate position of each whale that was killed, 

 and if whales were seen to be moving, they were asked to report the direction of move- 

 ment. The vast majority of the completed forms^^ relate to Blue and Fin whales taken 

 either off South Georgia or the South Shetlands, and it is with the data concerning these 

 species from these two areas that the present paper is concerned. 



The information obtained in this way presents a number of interesting features. It 

 demonstrates the particular regions within the areas where whales are accustomed to 

 concentrate, and it shows how these concentrations have shifted during the course of the 

 season. It indicates with some clearness the seasonal variations which have occurred, 

 and, in South Georgia, how greatly the whaling grounds have been extended in recent 

 years. Evidence bearing on the movements of whales is available both from alterations 

 from month to month in the centres of concentration and from the direct observations 

 recorded by the gunners. The results from these two sources are not always in agree- 

 ment and it would appear that reliable data can only be obtained by whale marking. 

 The first series of marking experiments has unfortunately proved unsuccessful : but 

 methods have been modified in accordance with experience and renewed attempts will 

 be made in the season 1932-3. 



In the present state of our knowledge it is difficult, if not impossible, to explain the 

 seasonal variations which these data have brought to light ; but as information accumu- 

 lates on the plankton and hydrology of the areas some of the underlying causes may be 



discovered. 



Few attempts have hitherto been made to ascertain the distribution of whales in 

 whaling areas. Detailed records are usually not kept by the whaling companies and 

 unless arrangements are made beforehand particulars cannot be obtained. Hjort, Lie 



1 The forms are stored in the offices of the Falkland Islands Government at Port Stanley. 



