Evening star., 1938-02-21
NATIONS COMPETE
FOR WHALE OIL
Britain Argentina Dispute
Over Southern Islands
Famed Anew.
By CARLOS ]. VIDELA,

By CARLOS ]. VIDELA,
Latin American Editor. North American
Newspaper Alliance.
NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-The pro-
posed elimination OF a polar weather
station maintained by Argentina at
the South Orkney Islands, near Ant
arctica, has again brought to the fore
the South American nations feud
with England about sovereignty rights
over South Polar lands, the South
Orkneys and South Georgia, all of
which have an important place in the
current international scramble for
whale oil.
Argentina has maintained a meteor
illogical station in one of the South
Orkneys since February %, 1904. In
1903 Great Britain claimed possess
sion of those islands and in 1909 de-
creed their annexation. which has
been steadfastly fought by Argentina,
just as she has fought Britain's hold
on the Malvinas, or Falkland Islands,
following dispute with the United
States in the early 1906
In 1928 Britain announced the an
nexation of large part of the Antarc-
tic continent, including what she calls
the Falkland whaling sector" which
contains South Georgia and the South
Orkneys. Argentina claims de jure
sovereignty over these lands and also
de facto sovereignty over the South
Orkneys, where she has operated the
meteorological station
Stamps Fan Feud.
The Anglo-Argentine controversy
still goes on, having been emphasized
two years ago by an issue of Argentine
alrmail stamps with map showing
the Malvinas, or Falklands, as Argen-
tine territory. The current suggestion
by the Argentine minister of agricul-
ture that the Antarctic observatory
be given up has loosened a storm Of
criticism in his country, where his
action is interpreted as an attempt to
abandon possession of the barren, ice
covered islands to the British.
These developments coincide with
an unusual increase Of whaling activ-
lty In Antarctic waters by enormous
noating factories and vast fleets of
Whale-chasers. The islands under
dispute are regular stations for the
vhale-hunting trade.
No fewer than 36 floating factories
and 270 chasers, plus two shore sta
tions, are engaged in killing and pro-
cessing whales in Antarctica during
the current season. The United States,
which was not represented last sea-
son. has one floating factory and
nine chasers operating now, accord
ing to Department of Commerce in
formation.
Germany Joins Hunt.
Germany, in an intense search for
fats OF all kinds, has sent four mother
ships and 80 chasers Britain has 10
Dig ships. one shore station and 81
chasers. Norway, always a big factor
in this trade. shows her flag on IL
floating factories and SO chasers. Ar
gentlna has one shore station and six
chasers. The ubiquitous Japanese
flshermen, already embroiled in troll
Bile with Russia over the Kamchatka
fHheries and with Alaska packers
over alleged japanese poaching in
salmon grounds, are edging toward
the Antarctic in the vicinity Of New
Zealand, in the face of outspoken
protests from the latter.
In the days Of the famous American
whalers out of New Bedford and Nam
tucket, whaling campaigns were 4
matter Of years, with the tall sailing
snlps touching at the Azores and fol-
lowing then the west coast of Africa
TO Capetown, crossing the Indian
ocean to Australia and finishing the
voyage often in the Behring Sea BE-
fore turning back for home via Cane
Horn. At present, however, the whal-
ing fleets concentrate in Antarctic
waters for a few months every year
December to March). slaughter hun
dred OF beasts at high speed, process
the carcasses in the huge floating
factories and turn home at the end
OF the season with cargoes worth often
over a million dollars.
Mechanical Factories"
The floating factories" as the
enormous steamers to which the small
chasers take their catch are named.
have replaced the romantic full-rig-
gers. barques and barkentines of Moby
Dicks time, and replace at sea the
facilities OF shore stations such as
those located in South Georgia. A
typical floating factory" is the Nor
weglan steamer Kosmos, of $4,000
IONS and capacity for storing 18O, 900
barrels OF oil. Whales are brought to
her by her brood of chasers and
hoisted on board through a port in
the stern. Then the carcasses are
cut with mechanical saws and other
apparatus and the pieces dropped
into boilers.
Most OF the dangers faced by the
sturdy New England whalers have dis
appeared with the introduction of
modern methods. Instead of lowering
boats, at the bows of which stood
harpooners ready to lance the float
ing monsters, the whaler now sends
on number of "chasers," steam trawl-
ers Of about 20 tons, with crews of ii
or Is men, the most important of
whom are the gunners.
The hazards Of harpooning the
whale, very often involving the over
turning of the boat and the drowning
OF sailors, has been done away with
by the invention. years ago, of the
harpoon gun, designed by Svend Foyn
OF Tonsberg, Norway. The gun is
mounted at the bow of the chaser and
1t shoots, at 80 or 40 yards distance.
an umbrella-shaped harpoon into the
side OF the whale. The flukes of the
harpoon open with the tightening Of
Sonnysoyinqs