salmon season, however, the Japanese boats withdrew. 
Whaling Controversy 
Recognizing that the unregulated killing of whales might lead 
to their extermination, several nations under the leadership of Norway 
and Great Britain, with the aid of the League of Nations, inaugurated 
measures for the conservation of this fishery resource. Prom about 1930 
on conferences have been held and treaties and agreements signed in 
which measures have been adopted by a number of nations to restrict 
whaling in the Antarctic grounds. 9/ The ultimate success of such a 
conservation program depended upon the cooperation of all nations whose 
nationals frequent the whaling grounds. Since the Japanese had been 
plying the Antarctic grounds with increased intensity, it was essential 
restraining hand of the government in their operations deeply resented 
the Japanese fishing which appeared to be without restriction and which 
would in a comparatively short time, if continued unchecked, nullify 
the conservation efforts. 
9 j The agreements attempted to protect the whale stock without work¬ 
ing disproportionate hardships on those nations largely dependent on 
land stations as against those dependent upon factory ships. Two 
species (right and grey) were given complete protection by prohibiting 
their slaughter; one (humpback) was protected by restricting the catch. 
Absolute closed seasons were established for some areas and flexible 
closed seasons for other areas. The taking of "calves or suckling 
whales or female whales which are accompanied by calves or suckling 
whales" is prohibited. For the blue, fin, humpback or sperm species, 
a size limit was fixed below which it is prohibited to take or kill 
them. Factory ships and land stations were required to make complete 
use of the carcass and to supply their government with detailed informa¬ 
tion on the type, size and condition of the whale caught and the amount 
of oil obtained. In order to decrease the size of the catch it was 
required that remuneration of employees on catcher ships be based on 
other than the number of whales killed. 
■ 191 - 
16-031 P220 bu 
