Translation 2783

Canadian station on 'Tancouver Island did not operate in 1968-70,
and the U.S.A. discontinued whaling in 1971.
246
Sperm whales were of most importance, in the whaling industry,
constituting 55cA of the total take in 1968; in the Antarctic season
of 1968-69 thc take of, sperm whales was 3.4 times as large as that
of othehales. The take of sei whales has risen rapidly in .recent
years (largely on account of the activities of Japanese whalers) to
5,740, i.e. almost as much as the total number of whales taken in
the Antarctic season of 1968-69 (5,776 whales). Only with regard
to fin whales (1,846 taken) does this region fall below the Antarctic,
where 5,020 of theSe whales were taken in the 1968-69 season.
Since the 1967 season the total number of whales killed in
the northern part of the Pacific Ocean has exceeded the number killed
'in the Antarctic.
In 1969 i;he number of fin whales and soi whales
killed in this region was 91, and the number of sperm•whales was
75%, of the total kill.
The hunting of baleen whales from coastal stations is restricted
to a continuous six-month season. The pelagic flotillas •
also hunt baleen whales during a six-month season, which lastS from
APril 15 to October 15.,
sperm whales.
There is an eight-month open season for
• Whaling is prohibited for the pelagic flotillas in waters
north of the 66th parallel, with the exception of the following
waters: from 150 0 E to 140 o and from 66 o N to 72 o ri; from 150 o W
eastward between -3 5 0 N and the Equator; and from 150 0 W westward
between 20 0 1 and the Equator.
The taking of right whales and grey whales is prohibited
until 1973, and that of hump-back whales and blue whales until 1975;
the taking of lactating females and their calves is also prohibited.
The minimum lengths of whales that may be taken are: fin
whales 16.8 metres, sei whales 12.2 metres (for pelagic flotillas
and coastal stations), and sperm whales 11.6 metres (for pelagic
flotillas) and 10.7 metres (for coastal stations).
When the whales'
flesh is to be used for human or animal food the minimum lengths are
reduced to 15.2 metres for fin whales and 10.7 metres,for soi whales:
Sirce 1971 the International Whaling Commission has fixed
quotas for the taking of whales by species.