58 A HISTORY OF THE WHALE FISHERIES 



of the larger species, it follows that this size limit 

 it not very effective. 



The whalers say that there is only a given 

 number of whales present on their hunting grounds, 

 of these they qapture a certain percentage. To 

 render whaling profitable a minimum number of 

 whales per steamer must be captured each season ; 

 this varies from thirty in British waters to three 

 times that number in the Antarctic, on account of 

 the greater cost of transport, etc., in those latitudes. 



Consequently when the number of whales captured 

 per steamer on any given whaling ground falls 

 below the minimum number required to yield a 

 profit, the whaling will, ipso facto, be abandoned. 

 The whalers' argument is that this is in itself a 

 sufficient protection for the whales, and there is no 

 fear of absolute extinction of any species. 



Probably there is some truth in this contention, 

 and for years to come there is no fear of the extinc- 

 tion of any cetacean. Nevertheless, all zoologists 

 should be on the alert, and should endeavour, 

 when opportunity occurs, to educate public opinion 

 on this subject, since it is only through the pressure 

 of public opinion on government that effective 

 steps can be taken to prevent the exploitation of one 

 of the most interesting groups of animals in the 

 interests of a small section of capitalists. 



