Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Mar 1938

Vol. 70 No. 10

International Agreement—Motion of Approval.

Dr. Ryan

I move:—

That the Dáil approves of the International Agreement for the Regulation of Whaling, signed at London on the 8th day of June, 1937, a copy of which was laid on the Table of the Dáil on the 30th March, 1938, and recommends the Government to take the necessary steps to ratify the said Agreement.

Experience has shown that the Convention, which was the subject of the last motion, hardly went far enough, and subsequently a further meeting was held of the Nine Powers at which further restrictions were agreed to. They agreed to close certain specified areas set out in this Convention for certain seasons, and to prohibit altogether the killing of whales of a certain rare species—the kind in which Deputy Norton is interested—until those species got a further chance of development. The killing of whales below a certain size, which is defined in the Convention, and the observance of certain seasons during which there is entire prohibition will come into force during this present year, and, to a greater extent, next year. I believe there was a practice amongst those whale catchers of paying their operatives on a per head ratio. Under this Convention they have undertaken to pay them only when they kill the proper type of whale, and not to pay them at all if they kill the wrong type of whale.

Mr. Norton

Is there any rotational work on that scheme?

Dr. Ryan

There is also a limit to the number they may kill. The agreement came into force provisionally on the 1st of July last, and, so far as this country is concerned, it has been operated since that date. It remains in force until the 30th June, 1938, unless its prolongation for a further period is objected to for any reason by any of the signatory powers. It will lapse automatically unless the principal powers engaged in the whaling business—Great Britain, Norway and Germany—remain parties to the Convention. The agreement has already been ratified by Great Britain, United States of America, Germany and Norway, and I am now asking the Dáil that they should also ratify the agreement.

Mr. Anthony

Will the Minister cause instructions to be issued as to the classification of whales: those that may be killed and those that may not be killed? How is the ordinary whaler going out with a harpoon or a fishing rod to distinguish between one class of whale and another?

Dr. Ryan

This agreement sets down the type of whale that may be killed and that may not be killed. As far as the method of killing goes, there are certain types of instruments forbidden, but the people who are interested in this are trying to make the business as humane as possible.

Mr. McMenamin

I am curious to know how the Minister will put these prohibitions in force. How are the owners of fleets going to enforce the prohibition with regard to the killing of certain types of whales? As far as I understand, they send their fleets to the whaling stations. They go out in ships which are equipped with apparatus for dealing with the whale after it is caught. How are you going to ensure that those people will kill the correct kind of whale? Are they not free to kill any kind of whale, or will you have inspectors there under this Convention?

Dr. Ryan

Yes.

Mr. McMenamin

Aboard a fishing boat?

Dr. Ryan

Yes.

Mr. Corish

Like Jonah.

Mr. McMenamin

Would the Minister tell us the areas in which the fleets are to be prohibited from fishing for whales, and would he say what is the reason for the prohibition?

Dr. Ryan

The Deputy, if he read Article 9, would get all that information there. I do not know whether I should inflict it on the House or not:

It is forbidden to use a factory ship or a whale catcher attached thereto for the purpose of taking or treating baleen whales in any of the following areas, viz.:—

(a) in the Atlantic Ocean north of 40º South Latitude and in the Davis Strait, Baffin Bay and Greenland Sea;

(b) in the Pacific Ocean east of 150º West Longitude between 40º 40º South Latitude and 35º North Latitude;

(c) in the Pacific Ocean west of 150º West Longitude between 40º South Latitude and 20 North Latitude;

(d) in the Indian Ocean north of 40º South Latitude.

Mr. McMenamin

What about the Mediterranean?

Dr. Ryan

That is open to all. The Deputy asked how this is to be enforced. That is where the interests of this country come in. If any owner comes along here to register a whaling boat, he will have to pay a certain registration fee, and then we put an officer on board to see that what is laid down in this Convention is observed. We have four Irishmen keeping peace in the Pacific and Antarctic at the present time.

Mr. Norton

Who pays them?

Dr. Ryan

We pay them out of the registration fees.

Question put and agreed to.