9. Special Scientific Investigation of the Antarctic Whale Stocks

(from "Chairman's Report of the Fourteenth Meeting")



The Commission noted that the Special Joint Meeting of the Scientific Committee and of the Committee of Three Scientists was expected to take place in Seattle in December, 1962. The tabulation, computation and carding of the great mass of data required involved expenditure which could not be met in the previous year. The Commission were advised by their Scientific Committee that all the biological data on age-distribution and the material relating to the recruitment of the stock had been sent to Dr. Chapman the convener of the meeting. It was understood that the catch material would be sent from the Bureau of International Whaling Statistics in the Autumn. In the meanwhile some new information including that on whale marking and on the weather conditions corresponding to the catch statistics is being prepared.

In accepting this position, the Commission agreed that the stock assessments, at the present limited to baleen whales, should be extended to sperm whales in all regions and eventually to all other species of economic importance.

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