Union of South Africa - Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Signed at Geneva, September 24th, 1931 [1935] LNTSer 15; 155 LNTS 349

<title>Union of South Africa - Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Signed at Geneva, September 24th, 1931 [1935] LNTSer 15; 155 LNTS 349
</title>
N° 3586.

UNION SUD-AFRICAINE,
ALBANI E, ALLEMAGNE,
ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE,
AUSTRALIE, etc.
Convention pour Ia réglementation
de Ia chasse a Ia baleine. Signée
a Genève, Ic 24 septembre 1931.


UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA,
ALBANIA, GERMANY,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
AUSTRALIA, etc.
Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling. Signed at Geneva, Sep-
tember 24th, 193 1.

1935 League of Nations - Treaty Series. 351

No. 3586. CONVENTION1 FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING.
SIGNED AT GENEVA, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 1931.


Official texts in French and English. This Convention was registered with the Secretariat, in accordance
with its Article 21, on January 16th, 1935, the date of its entry into force.


HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE ALBANIANS; THE PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN REICH; THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS;
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND AND THE BRITISH DOMINIONS BEYOND THE
SEAS, EMPEROR OF INDIA; THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA; HIS MAJESTY THE
KING OF DENMARK AND ICELAND ; THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SPANISH
REPUBLIC; THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND; THE PRKSIDENT OF THE FRENCH
REPUBLIC ; THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC ; HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF ITALY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF MEXICO ; HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF NORWAY HER
MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS; THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH REPUBLIC; HIS
MAJESTY THE KING OF ROUMANIA; THE SWISS FEDERAL COUNCIL; THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC; THE PRESIDENT OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC; HIS MAJESTY THE KING
OF YUGOSLAVIA, have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries the following

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE ALBANIANS:
M. Lec Kuwri, Resident Minister, Permanent DAcgate accredited to the League of Nations.

Deposit of ratifications in Geneva
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NORWAY 
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA 
SWITZERLAND
MEXICO 
THE NETHERLANDS (including the Netherlands Indies,
Surinam and Curacao)
ITALY 
Translation. - The accession of the Italian
Government to this Convention can in no way
constitute a precedent for future agreements
providing for the limitation of fishing in extra-
territorial seas.
SPAIN 
POLAND 
CZECHOSLOVAKIA 
YUGOSLAVIA 
TURKEY 
DENMARK (including Greenland) 
GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND 
His Majesty does not assume any obli-
gations in respect of any of His colonies,
protectorates, overseas territories or territories

July 7th, 1932,
July 18th, 1932.
January 11th, 1933.
February i6th, 1933.
March 13th, 1933.

May 30th, 1933.
June 12th, 5933.


August znd, 1933.
September 27th, 5933.
October 20th, 1933.
January i6th, 5934.
May 28th, 5934.
June 26th, 1934.
October x8th, 1934.

1935 League of Nations - Treaty Series. 353

THE PRESIDENT OF THE GERMAN REICH
M. Hans Hermann VOLCKERS, Consul-General at Geneva.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
Mr. Hugh R. WILSON, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Swiss
Federal Council.
His MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS:
M. P. HYMANS, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

His MAJESTY THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND AND THE BRITISH D0MINI0Ns BEYOND
THE SEAS, EMPEROR OF INDIA

FOR GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND and all parts of the British Empire which
are not separate Members of the League of Nations
The Right Honourable Viscount CECIL OF CHELWOOD, K.C.

FOR THE DOMINION OF CANADA
The Honourable Hugh GUTHRIE, P.C., K.C., M.P., Minister of Justice and Attorney-
General.

FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Mr. James R. COLLINS, C.M.G., C.B.E., Official Secretary and Financial Adviser in the
Office of the High Commissioner in London.
FOR THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND
Sir Thomas Mason WILFORD, K.C,M.G., K.C., High Commissioner in London.

FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA
Mr. C. T. TE WATER, High Commissioner in London.
FOR INDIA
Sir Brojendra L. MITTER, Kt., Law Member of the Viceroy's Executive Council.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA

Dr. A. J. RESTREPO, Permanent Delegate accredited to the League of Nations.
His MAJESTY THE KING OF DENMARK AND ICELAND

M. William BORBERG, Permanent Delegate accredited to the League of Nations.

under suzerainty or under mandate exercised by
His Majesty's Government in the United King-
dom.
FRANCE May ,6th, 5935.
NEW ZEALAND October x6th, 1935.
CANADA December 12th, 1935.
A ccessions
SUDAN April 13th, 5932.
NICARAGUA April 3oth, 5932.
MONACO June 7th, 5932.
BRAZIL November 21st, 5932.
EGYPT January 25th, 5933.
ECUADOR April 13th, 1935.
LATVIA September i7th, 5935.

~l'~ Ni~. ~

1935 League of Nations Treaty Series. 355

THE PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SPANISH REPUBLIC

M. Alejandro LERROUX GARCIA, Minister of State.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND

M. Evald GYLLENBOGEL, Counsellor of Legation, Permanent Delegate a.i. accredited
to the League of Nations.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

M. Louis ROLLIN, Deputy, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC

M. R. RAPHAEL, Permanent Delegate accredited to the League of Nations.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF ITALY
M. Augusto Rosso, Minister Plenipotentiary, Substitute Delegate to the Council of the
League of Nations.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF MEXICO
M. Salvador MARTINEZ DE ALVA, Head of the Permanent Office accredited to the League
of Nations.

His MAJESTY THE KING OF NORWAY
M. Birger BRAADLAND, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS
Jonkheer F. BEELAERTS VAN BLOKLAND, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH REPUBLIC
M. Auguste ZALESKI, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF ROUMANIA
M. Constantin ANTONIADE, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary accredited
to the League of Nations.

THE SWISS FEDERAL COUNCIL
M. Giuseppe MOTTA, President of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Federal Political
Department.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK REPUBLIC
M. Zdenèk FIERLINGER, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Swiss
Federal Council, Permanent Delegate accredited to the League of Nations.

THE PRESIDENT OF' THE TURKISH REPUBLIC
Cemai HUSNU Bey, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Federal
Council.

His MAJESTY THE KING OF YUGOSLAVIA
M. Voislav MARINKOVITCH, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Who, having communicated their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed on the
following provisions:

No. 35~~6

1935 League of Nations - Treaty Series. 357

Article I.

The High Contracting Parties agree to take, within the limits of their respective jurisdictions,
appropriate measures to ensure the application of the provisions of the present Convention and the
punishment of infractions of the said provisions.


Article 2.

The present Convention applies only to baleens or whalebone whales.


Article 3.

The present Convention does not apply to aborigines dwelling on the coasts of the territories
of the High Contracting Parties provided that
(i) They only use canoes, pirogues or other exclusively native craft propelled by
oars or sails ; -
(2) They do not carry firearms;
(3) They are not in the employment of persons other than aborigines;
(4) They are not under contract to deliver the products of their whaling to any third
person.

Article 4.

The taking or killing of right whales, which shall be deemed to include North-Cape whales,
Greenland whales, southern right whales, Pacific right whales and southern pigmy right whales,
is prohibited.


Article 5.

The taking or killing of calves or suckling whales, immature whales, and female whales which
are accompanied by calves (or suckling whales) is prohibited.


Article 6.

The fullest possible use shall be made of the carcases of whales taken. In particular

(i) There shall be extracted by boiling or otherwise the oil from all blubber and
from the head and the tongue and, in addition, from the tail as far forward as the outer
opening of the lower intestine.
The provisions of this sub-paragraph shall apply only to such carcases or parts of
carcaseS as are not intended to be used for human food.
(2) Every factory, whether on shore or afloat, used for treating the carcases of
whales shall be equipped with adequate apparatus for the extraction of oil from the blubber,
flesh and bones.
(~) In the case of whales brought on shore, adequate arrangements shall be made
for utilising the residues after the oil has been extracted.
No. 3586

1935 League of Nations - Treaty Series. 359

Article 7.

Gunners and crews of whaling vessels shall be engaged on terms such that their remuneration
shall depend to a considerable extent upon such factors as the size, species, value and yield of
oil of whales taken, and not merely upon the number of whales taken, in so far as payment is made
dependent on results.


Article 8.

No vessel of any of the High Contracting Parties shall engage in taking or treating whales
unless a licence authorising such vessel to engage therein shall have been granted in respect of
such vessel by the High Contracting Party, whose flag she flies, or unless her owner or charterer
has notified the Government of the said High Contracting Party of his intention to employ her
in whaling and has received a certificate of notification from the said Government.
Nothing in this Article shall prejudice the right of any High Contracting Party to require that,
in addition, a licence shall be required from his own authorities by every vessel desirous of using
his territory or territorial waters for the purposes of taking, landing or treating whales, and such
licence may be refused or may be made subject to such conditions as may be deemed by such High
Contracting Party to be necessary or desirable, whatever the nationality of the vessel may be.


Article 9.

The geographical limits within which the Articles of this Convention are to be applied shall
include all the waters of the world, including both the high seas and territorial and national waters.


Article io.

i. The High Contracting Parties shall obtain, with regard to the vessels flying their flags
and engaged in the taking of whales, the most complete biological information practicable with
regard to each whale taken, and in any case on the following points
(a) Date of taking;
(b) Place of taking;
(c) Species;
(d) Sex;
(e) Length; measured, when taken out of water; estimated, if cut up in water;

(/) When fcetus is present, length and sex if ascertainable;
(g) When practicable, information as to stomach contents.
2. The length referred to in sub-paragraphs (e) and (f) of this Article shall be the length of a
straight line taken from the tip of the snout to the notch between the flukes of the tail.


Article xi.
Each High Contracting Party shall obtain from all factories, on land or afloat, under his
jurisdiction, returns of the number of whales of each species treated at each factory and of the
No. 3586

1935 League of Nations - Treaty Series. 361

amounts of oil of each grade and the quantities of meal, guano and other products derived from
them.


Article 12.

Each of the High Contracting Parties shall communicate statistical information regarding
all whaling operations under their jurisdiction to the International Bureau for Whaling Statistics
at Oslo. The information given shall comprise at least the particulars mentioned in Article io
and : (i) the name and tonnage of each floating factory; (n) the number and aggregate tonnage
of the whale catchers ; (~) a list of the land stations which were in operation during the period
concerned. Such information shall be given at convenient intervals not longer than one year.


Article 13.

The obligation of a High Contracting Party to take measures to ensure the observance of the
conditions of the present Convention in his own territoires and territorial waters, and by his vessels,
shall not apply to those of his territories to which the Convention does not apply, and the territorial
waters adjacent thereto, or to vessels registered in such territories.


Article 14.

The present Convention, the French and English texts of which shall both be authoritative,
shall remain open until the thirty-first of March 1932 for signature on behalf of any Member of the
League of Nations or of any non-member State.


Article 15.

The present Convention shall be ratified. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited
with the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, who shall notify their receipt to all Members
of the League of Nations and non-member States indicating the dates of their deposit.


Article i6.

As from the first of April 1932, any Member of the League of Nations and any non-member
State, on whose behalf the Convention has not been signed before that date, may accede thereto.
The instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the League of
Nations, who shall notify all the Members of the League of Nations and non-member States of
their deposit and the date thereof.

Article 17.

The present Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the receipt by
the Secretary-General of the League of Nations of ratifications or accessions on behalf of not less
than eight Members of the League or non-member States, including the Kingdom of Norway
and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
No. 3586

1935 League of Nations - Treaty Series. 363

As regards any Member of the League or non-member State on whose behalf an instrument
of ratification or accession is subsequently deposited, the Convention shall enter into force on the
ninetieth day after the date of the deposit of such instrument.


Article i8.

If after the coming into force of the present Convention the Council of the League of Nations,
at the request of any two Members of the League or non-member States with regard to which the
Convention is then in force, shall convene a Conference for the revision of the Convention, the High
Contracting Parties agree to be represented at any Conference so convened.


Article 19.

I. The present Convention may be denounced after the expiration of three years from the
date of its coming into force.
2. Denunciation shall be effected by a written notification addressed to the Secretary-
General of the League of Nations, who shall inform all the Members of the League and the non-
member States of each notification received and of the date of its receipt.
3. Each denunciation shall take effect six months after the receipt of its notification.


Article 20.

I. Any High Contracting Party may, at the time of signature, ratification or accession,
declare that, in accepting the present Convention, he does not assume any obligations in respect
of all or any of his colonies, protectorates, overseas territories or territories under suzerainty or
mandate ; and the present Convention shall not apply to any territories named in such declaration.

2. Any High Contracting Party may give notice to the Secretary-General of the League of
Nations at any time subsequently that he desires that the Convention shall apply to all or any
of his territories which have been made the subject of a declaration under the preceding paragraph,
and the Convention shall apply to all the territories named in such notice ninety days after its
receipt by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

3. Any High Contracting Party may, at any time after the expiration of the period of three
years mentioned in Article 19, declare that he desires that the present Convention shall cease to
apply to all or any of his colonies, protectorates, overseas territories or territories under suzerainty
or mandate and the Convention shall cease to apply to the territories named in such declaration
six months after its receipt by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

4. The Secretary-General of the League of Nations shall communicate to all the Members
of the League of Nations and the non-member States all declarations and notices received in virtue
of this Article and the dates of their receipt.


Article a'.
The present Convention shall be registered by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations
as soon as it has entered into force.
No. 3586