Evening star., 1926-08-22
WHALING REVIVED
OFF CALIFORNIA
Norwegian Crew Reports
Capture of $50 Animals.
Sells $4,000 Cargo.
BY Consolidated Press.


SAN PEDRO. Calf, August 2l.-
Whaling. an almost forgotten industry
except in history and in stories of the
picturesque sailing boats of an earlier
day, is reViVlng to an astonishing de-
gree in the waters of the Pacific. on
the coast Of Southern and Lower
California.
More huge denizens of the deep have
been captured this season than in any
similar period since the whaling bust
ness fell into the discard. Scarcely
ship arriving at this port fails to re-
port sighting one or more of the great
sea mammals during the run from
San Diego to Los Angeles.
Passengers on one liner making the
run this week saw three whales
sporting in the lee of Catalina Island.
The whales, which ranged from go to
so feet in length, were Spoutlng.
sounding and splashing just as they
did in the old days when whaling YES
sells searched so thoroughly for their
prev that they almost wiped out the
species.
Survivors Hid Away.
The remnant of the schools which
escaped the Whalers in the early
period of West Coast settlement seem
to have hidden themselves away IN
some remote parts where, undlsturbed
bv man. they increased in numbers
until they outgrew their hiding place
and were driven by overcroWdlng
again to range the open seas. DIS
watches from Atlantic ports recently
have told of great schools of whales
sighted in those waters, also.
Where the whales hid and where
they have come from are questions
which scientists are trying to an
swer While they are seeking solu-
ton of the puzzle, other men are
seeking and finding profit by wei
coming the sea monsters with mod
ern methods of destruction.
The first consignment of whale oil
ever discharged here for domestic
consumption was brought in recently
by a motorShip manned by crew OF
NorwegianS After a months s cruise
south of san Diego the vessel had Il
cargo of 6SS tons of oil, valued at
$4,000. The cargo was sold to a
soap manufacturer.
Have Taken $50 Whales.
Can't. ]. A. Bryde. an Old-time
whale hunter, has been placed in
charge of operations for a Norwegian
company which is planning extensive
whaling operations along this coast.
Capt. Bryde says that tour ShlpS re-
Gently put into this revived industry
by the Norwegians have taken 450
whales within a radius of 300 miles Of
San Pedro. Three of the ships do the
hunting. while the fourth receives the
blubber and reduces ii to oil.
Capt. Bryde sees great possibilities
in revival of the whaling industry,
but mournfully admits that the ro-
nance of the old days cannot be re-
created.
Sailing ships have no chance to
compete in whaling or any other inn
portant activity" he said. Wind
hammers. manned by expert sailors
and harpooners. inspired by COM
munity interest among the crews, he
gan and completed a phase of the
whaling industry that can never re-
turn Nowadays whaling is just a
business-more efficient if more
prosaic than formerly-with short
cruises and quick returns"
The NorWegianS are not alone in
scenting profits in the return of the
whales Half dozen American com
panies are being formed here and at
San Diego to begin operations in
earnest after the first of next year. if
the whales are in evidence then.