| 1 | Every year we come down stronger and every year the whaling fleet comes down weaker. | |
| 2 | On the other hand, even in the pro-whaling countries, whaling is an insignificant and dying industry. | |
| 3 | Japan considers whaling to be a cultural tradition which it says it only undertakes for scientific research. | |
| 4 | At least one nation, New Zealand, a vehemently antiwhaling country, has expressed doubts that it could support the deal. | |
| 5 | Meanwhile, thanks to agrowth in whaling and trade with China, the number of distressed Westernvessels appearing along Japan' s shores was increasing. |