Whales and Whaling

Abstract

WHEN, in 1919, Sigurd Risting became secretary of the Norwegian Whalers' Association, he began to collect all available statistics of catches and measurements of whales and whale fœtuses in order to throw as much light as possible upon the life, migrations, and conditions of growth of these animals. To this end, a schedule of relevant questions was sent with the various Norwegian whaling expeditions to the antarctic seas. In this way, measurements of 7750 blue whales, 6919 fin whales, and 1054 fœtuses (592 blue whale and 462 fin whale) have been obtained from the whaling fields of South Georgia, South Shetlands, and South Orkneys. In addition, from the year 1922 onwards, statistics have been sent to Risting from practically every Norwegian whaling company throughout the world, and a few foreign companies also have contributed. From this mass of statistical material much valuable information regarding both blue and fin whales has been deduced.¹