For a somewhat romantic account of Charles whaling activities go here

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=NcczvZR3_-gC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=charles+mill+whaling&source=web&ots=xBIKdpRgK2&sig=odnfHIpE9hu4oFNwOaIZvrmmxlI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result

The story about the missing beef is verified but a different version given in Marnie Bassets book the Henty’s. ( Charles refused to have the men go about the task of cutting and rendering the whale once it had eventually been beached “untill the men had rum and beef, and a day to recover from their labours” (( to be supplied by FH )) There are also varying accounts of the reason for the naming of the “convincing ground” also. Marnie also wrote that the men often went days inland in search of “wives” and certainly the depredations the year after this account was written against the locals were carried out in same manner of efficiency as the hunt for the whale.

For his time Charles was an outstanding example of courage and colonial spirit.

I like to think this vier for Victoria’s first seasonal white occupier was also our first conservationist ( In spite of his donging a few seals on the head Lol )

Regards Murray

Sorry Murray, not sure what you mean by this. Australians caused the demise of SRWs in Australian waters and Japan has had basically zip to do with this species anywhere as far as I can recall.

I recently wrote a short article about whom I believe was Victoria’s first “conservationist” Born in Tassie he and his brother whaled from west Victorian beaches and the Henty’s incorporated their business when they established their “settlement”. Charles Mills passionatly argued for an end to the practise of lancing Southern Right Whale calves and cows “lest the great fish dissapear” at the first “International” whaling convention at Warnambool.

Charles advice was not heeded, and Charles survived to see the end of Victorian Whaling and the complete demise of the eastern pod of the Souther Right. Charles’s views were not the moral ones many Aussies have today about whales, rather he sought to preserve a resource for future generations.

Ironically almost all we know about the sustainability of southern whale species comes from Japans much deplored “scientific” whaling.

Kind Regards

Murray

For readers information , the Norwegian Gov’t states ( 2008) :

” The minke whale is the smallest of the baleen whales, and minke whaling is entirely different from the industrial, capital-intensive whaling of the past, which targeted the large whale species and where whale oil was the most important product. This form of whaling has long been consigned to the history books.”

Norwegian Gov’t whaling policy ( 2008) :

http://www.norway.org.uk/policy/environment/whaling/whaling.htm

You must also note that the Gov’t lowered this years whaling quota!

Re the moratorium, as far as I have understood there is only an Norwegian objection to minke whaling .Some people who also support minke whaling think it was good to introduce the moratorium. ( Actually I received an article from the whalers that stated this). You can see it on my blog.

Re the IWC, it was the first time at the annual whaler’s meeting that the Gov’t might discuss next year to leave the IWC. Drawbacks with NAMMCO is that it only consists of 4 member nations.

Most of the show focus is on the heavy ham handed attempts by the captain to assert absolute authority over this herd of children in adult bodies.
Their parents must get a chuckle.

Re Watson he tried to sink the Norwegian whaler ” Nybraena ” back in 1992. The Norwegians wanted to prosecute Watson for this , but the Netherlands refused to leave out Watson for the court.