h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Whaling and Whale Protection - A13524004
Author: Galaxy Babe - Scout/ACE/Sub-Ed - U128652

I've tried to make this as balanced as possible but no doubt you'll all shout if it's too biased.


GB

Submitted 5 Aug

Hi GB,

This is a good and interesting start to what will become a valuable Entry.

I think I might be able to contribute quite a lot to this. Years ago when I was studying 'A' Level zoology, our lecturer gave us some comprehensive notes on whaling. Since then, I've collected together bits and pieces of info from the press which I keep in a folder When I get the opportunity I'll look them out and see if there's anything you should add. In the meantime, these aere my first thoughts:

'Outlawed

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was formed in 1946, and it banned commercial whaling completely in 1986. Whaling was outlawed in the 20th Century because there were fears that whale-hunting was driving many species to extinction.... '

Here I thought you dived rather abruptly into the formation of the IWC without mentioning the conditions that led to its formation bweforehand.

ence I think you need to put in a rather extensive section about the impact of whaling and the need to set up the IWC.

.You don't mention the following at all:

1. Spermaceti - It was the oi in the spermaceti organ, made up of two sacs in the whale's head which was highly prized and led to sperm whale's being hunted in the time of...

2. Hermann Melville, the author of Moby Dick (1851). This book was said to have been inspired by the sinking of...

3. ...the 240 ton whaler, Essex. This ship sailed from Nantucket, Massachusetts to search for whales in 1820. Some 15 months later it was repeatedly rammed and sunk by an 80 ton sperm whale in a remote part of the South Pacific.

4. In 151 - the year MD was published! - the Ann Alexander was also sunk in the Pacific, caused by two head-on charges from a harpooned sperm whale.

5. Spermaceti oil was used as a high quality lubricant in engineering and textile industries and as a base for cosmetics. But the FUNCTION of the spermaceti sac for the whale has always been unclear.

However, an article in New Scientist in June 2002 reported on how the fluid-filled spermaceti sacs would behave in a head-on collision. Researchers from Univ. of Utah (Dr Stephen Deban et al) confirmed that the sac is a highly efficient 'damper' which cushions the impact. It acts like a sponge, absorbing the shock of a blow and returning to its natural shape. Whale species in which males engaged in more intense competition tend to have larger oiul-filled sacs; but it also means that such a whale could smash into a ship and come out of the encounter unscathed.

PS In my 'Pembrokeshire' Entry (A9370613) I explained how the town of Milford Haven grew up as a result of Quaker whalers. I tthink they came from Nantucket, but that seems to have been edited out (only just noticed that!) Dunno if you might be able to wrk in a link in passing?

Ref formation of IWC, during the 19th century whale hunting nearly decimated the eastern Pacific whale population. However, in time the demand for whale oil and bone declined, and thew whale population recovered.. The crisis came inn the early 1900s when boats became 'floating factories' that enabled hunters to process whole carcasses on board. This once again brought wwhales (esp. the Grey Whale, I understand) of the eastern Pacific to near extinction.

Hence - 1947, IWC

Also, the Mexican govt hasestablished whale sanctuaries and the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. The Grey W. now has a population of some 26000, and is no longer endangered

Also, I think you should say that the IWC allows only subsistence hunting by the native peoples of Alaska and Siberia.

Another product originally from the sperm whale, is ambergris - used in perfumery. This forms in the whale's intestine, perhaps due to some irritation, and is released into the sea in the form of lumps. As they're releasedcinto the sea, I doin't know whether whales would've been killed specifically for this product; but the largest piece ever found weighed 400kg, and was taken from the intestine of a whale which had been killed. Normally, they are rarely more than 20cm in diameter.

Ref 'History of Whaling, this goes back 2000 years - not just to 10th century. Apparently, when whaling first started in the Arctic, there were so many whales that sailors said you could've walked to the shore on their backs.

Produccts from whales: ballen (whalebone) used for corsets, brushes, ornaments.

To say that whalemeat is a 'delicacy' in Japan may be an understatement It's an expensive gourmet food!

Ref what I said in the above about a ranaiisance of whaling in the 19th C - this was due to the Industrial Revolution (LINK?) which brought about steram ships, explosive harpoons and the attendant ability to kill thousands more w.

Dunno whether it's worth making a passing mention of whale 'strandings' which seem to be becoming more common these days

Found my A Level notes now. Some facts/points which you may find useful:

Whaling industry has been based mainly on 9 species, of which all but the sperm whale arew 'whalebone whales'

Atlantic right whale, Greenland whale, Sperm w., Southern right, Pacific or California Grey, , Blue, Fin, Sei, Humpback.

Atlantic Right Whale - so named because it was considered the right or correct w. to hunt.

Pacific Grey - as I said above, Mexico has taken a particularly strong lead in protecting this sp, and has set up refuges.

Vlue whale: Not only thr largest animal in the World, but as far as scientists can tell, is the largest animal that has ever lived. Can grow to a length of 100 fee56t and a weight of 100 tons.

At the time of being given these notes, (1972 there were only 3 species of great whale present in sufficient numbers to be hunted at all: sei, fin and sperm.

Humpback whale has, at times, been most important constituent of catch of modern whalers.

Although of less commercial importance, the following whales have also been systematically captured at various times :

Narwhal (this is the animal that gave birth to legend of unicorns - link to 'Mythical Creatures ; white whale (or Beluga whales - Russian for 'white one. Because they make many different sounds early sailors nicknamed them the 'canaries of the seas'), pilot whale, bottle-nosed whale, common porpoise, others of the smaller dolphins.

Quote from my notes: 'It is hard to comprehend how the industry allowed its raw material to be so disastrously over-exploited. The pattern has been for whalers to pursue each species with ruthless zeal until it becomes uneconomical to seek it out. They then move on to the next species down the list. When they have reduced a species virtually to the point o extinction, they call a halt in the name of 'conservation'. The fact that no species' have actually become extinct is more due to good luck than good management. At this moment in history only 3 species of great whale still exist in sufficient numbers to be hunted at all.... (see above)

The invention of an improved harpoon gun in 1865 gave a new impetus to whaling, and this has culminated in the extraordinary success of operations in the Falkland Islands dependencies and Ross Sea. This, together with the invention of floating 'factory ships' which allowed the reintroduction and development of pelagic whaling ( can't recall what that word means ) by methods more effcient than those formerly practised, has resulted in new dangers for the whales.

Expereinence has shown that whales do not readily return to an old locality, even when they've been free from pursuit for many years'

Dunno if the following might be of interest:

'During the week of the 1972 IWC the British Pet Food mANUFACTURERS aSSOC ANNOUNCED THAT ITS MEMBERS HAD STOPPED BUYING WHALEMEAT. tHIS REMOVES A LARGE SLICE OF THE MARKET AS IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT bRITISH PET FOOD FIRMS IMPORTED SOME 7% Of the total annual production of whale meat. Pressure could also be brought to bear on the cosmetics mfrs such as Almay, E.Arden, Yardley and Max Factor ( presumably that has already happened )

for the capitalisation above

I can see Big Al is having a whale of a time with this (someone had to say it, might as well be me ) so will just say I find it a fascinating read so far.

Well done again GB.

i'm against whaling for what it's worth The scientific arguement does'nt wash for me either</>

ST.

hi GB

Nicely written.

However, and please note that I come to you from a completely anti-whaling standpoint, do you think it would be a little more balanced if you included some reasons for whaling? I'm thinking of the small communities (and I haven't a clue where any of them are) who take what they need, use everything they take, and in fact despite the fact that they hunt whales have a vested and very real interest in the continued survival of the species?

Just a thought

nice entry

'I'm thinking of the small communities (and I haven't a clue where any of them are) who take what they need, use everything they take, and in fact despite the fact that they hunt whales have a vested and very real interest in the continued survival of the species?'

This is the subsistence hunting' by the natives of Alaska and Siberia which I mentioned in Post 4 - permitted by the IWC

that'll teach me to skim posts


sorry GB...

The scientific reasons that you've given for the continuation of whaling, particularly in the Japan section, are biased. It would be worth digging out what reasons that Japanese themselves have given. One real reason that springs instantly to my mind is the protection of jobs. The cessation of whaling would lead to unemployment in Japanese fishing communities.

I'm not entirely convinced that all parts of all whales are considered a delicacy in Japan. I do know that whale meat used to be a constituent part of school dinners over there because it was cheap. There may however be certain cuts that are highly prized and hence valuable.

Ambergris, I believe, requires a lengthy period being washed around in the sea to make it valuable. It starts off white sticky and pretty foul smelling. The action of sun and salt water over a long period of time - years in some cases I believe - turns it dark grey and brings out the scents that makes it valuable to the perfume industry. The perfumiers say that the product isn't used as a matter of course in any perfumes these days, but when available it does feature in some of the more expensive brands.

'I'm not entirely convinced that all parts of all whales are considered a delicacy in Japan. I do know that whale meat used to be a constituent part of school dinners over there because it was cheap'.

Yes, I think you're probably right GeeDee .Also, I think whalemeat was eaten in the UK during AND JUST AFTER wwii due to shortage of other meats. Hence the corruption of Vera Lynn's song, Whalemeat again....

Can't nderstand what my keyboard is doing this morning. Keeps setting itself to capitals

Ref 'history of whaling' going back millenia (see one of my earlier posts) see:

http://www.thehistorychannel.co.uk/site/search/search.php?word=whaling

Thanks everyone for the feedback
All points noted, I'll roll up my sleeves and get to work on this as and when my son will let my on the pc (knocked this out over two nights burning the midnight oil after he went to bed)

I'll post again when I've updated

Ref Whale meat again ...., see:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/about/lzone_sources_blackasian.shtml

(I'll shut up for a bit, you'll be glad to hear, GB.

I think Japan is trying to keep the industry alive .
whale meat here costs about the same as pork or beef,I see it when I go to the supermarkets but I've never seen anyone buying it .

I've updated but I still need to do more, including search for linksgotta feed my lad but I don't feel like any tea

It's bit disjointed in places, GB but I'm sure you're aware of this and are still working on it.

However, the first para is very clumsy. Suggest:

'Whaling is the term used for hunting whales with boats armed with harpoon guns, which men fire harpoons from, to kill the whales'.

Whaling is the term used for hunting whales in boats which, nowadays, are armed with harpoon guns.

n.b. Apparently, the ground flesh and bones of whales is (was?) used as fertiliser.