Sea Business

Of no significance was the annual revival of the oyster business, starting last week. But of great significance was a 6,000-ton steamer, slowly going down the Atlantic seaboard. She was the Frango, first ship of the new American Whaling Co. Aboard her are 69 oldtime Norwegian whalers. In charge of the expedition is Captain Olaf Stokken of Sunnyfield, N. J.; in charge of the vessel is Captain Johannes Smith of Freeport, L. I. Off Georgia the Frango will be joined by four small "killer" boats, will then proceed to the Antarctic. Unfamiliar in this region is the U. S. flag, for the large-scale Antarctic whaling industry is conducted by English, Norwegian and Danish vessels, many of which are controlled by Anglo-Norwegian Holdings, Ltd., whose shares are traded in on the New York Curb. If the Frango does well, American Whaling Co. will add other vessels, attempt to regain U. S. whaling prestige.

Meanwhile whales figured in news despatches from both coasts. In Shelton, Wash., lumberport, a large black whale appeared one 2 a. m. Mill hands hooked a hawser around its jaw, towed it to deep water. Thereupon it rushed to another part of the bay, was eventually harpooned. In Dover, N. H., a whale became marooned on a mud-flat, was shot by local police. Editorially, the New York World denounced this act, pointed out that while a live whale is no asset to a community, a dead one is a distinct liability.

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