Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 52.djvu/1506

 catch of the land stations should be carefully studied and that the Governments should consider, in the light of such study, what further regulations, if any, should be attached to whaling from land stations, either generally or in particular geographical areas. In the view of the Conference, there is a certain risk that the restrictions im- posed on pelagic whaling may lead to a development of whaling from land stations, and the Governments should accordingly place them- selves in a position to check or regulate such development should it occur. 6. The Conference further recommends that the Governments should put themselves in a position to limit, if it is thought fit, the number of whale catchers that may be employed in connection with any factory ship or land station with a view to further limitation of the destruction of whales. 7. The Governments are also recommended to take powers, if they do not already possess them, to prohibit whaling entirely in any area of the sea either permanently or for a limited period. It is felt that it may be desirable, in the light of experience gained, to close permanently areas which may be proved to be calving areas, or to close from year to year selected areas of the Antarctic Ocean or elsewhere for the purpose of giving to the whales a sanctuary in which they may escape molestation. 8. The Conference also recommends that the Governments should place themselves in a position to regulate the methods of killing whales. Under existing methods of whaling, whales may be fatally injured, but lost owing to defects in the guns or harpoons in use, including the propelling and bursting charges. This involves waste of whales. It is suggested that it may prove desirable so to regulate the methods of taking whales as to ensure that, by the use of suitable explosive charges, or by the use of a harpoon electrically charged, the whale when hit may be speedily killed and wastage thus avoided. Moreover, a regulation of this character may be expected to abate something of the undoubted cruelty of present methods of whaling. 9. The Conference further recommends that the contracting Gov- ernments should take steps to prevent this Agreement and any regu- lations made thereunder from being defeated by the transfer of ships registered in their territories to the Flag of another Government not a party to this Agreement, and suggests that for this purpose it might be provided that the transfer of a factory ship or whale catcher from its national Flag to the Flag of any other country should be permitted only under licence of the Government. 10. The Conference believes that the regulations upon which it has agreed will certainly contribute to the maintenance of the stock of whales and to the prosperity of the whaling industry. Not all the representatives of Governments present at the Conference have been able to sign the Agreement, some of them not being authorised by their Governments in that behalf. It is hoped that all Govern- ments represented will eventually accede to the Agreement. The Conference desires to urge upon the contracting Governments that they should use their utmost endeavours to secure the adhesion of 1468 TREATIES [52 STAT.

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