This image of a minke whale and a calf being dragged on to a Japanese whaling ship is just one of a sequence showing the mammals being chased and slaughtered in the Antarctic Ocean, say Australian

The Federal Government has criticised crew members aboard the anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin for throwing stink bombs at Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters. The Sea Shepherd activists bombarded the deck of the Nisshin Maru with bottles and packets containing foul-smelling and slippery substances earlier today, about 175 nautical miles off the coast of the Australian Antarctic Territory. In a statement issued earlier today, Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson described the confrontation as ''non-violent chemical warfare'' designed to disrupt the processing of whales harpooned at sea. But Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith condemned the actions of the Steve Irwin crew today, saying the Australian embassy in Tokyo had been told that three or four crew members on the Japanese vessel were treated by a ship's doctor as a result of the bombardment. ''I absolutely condemn actions by crew members of any vessel that cause injury - or have the potential to cause injury - to anyone on the high seas,'' Mr Smith said in a statement. The minister said while the Government was committed to bringing an end to Japan's whaling activities in the Southern Ocean, it ''strongly discourages activity which could be illegal or unsafe (or) which could lead to injury or loss of life at sea''. Captain Watson said the bombs were made from ''organic, non-toxic materials designed to harass and obstruct illegal whaling operations''. The confrontation took place after a 24-hour chase in which the Steve Irwin gradually closed on the bigger vessel. Captain Watson said four uniformed and armed Japanese Coast Guard officers appeared on the decks of the Nisshin Maru to videotape events. An audio tape playing over loudspeakers warned: ''This is the Nisshin Maru captain. Stop your destructive actions immediately. If you dare to board this vessel you will be taken into custody and restrained as illegal intruders under Japanese law.'' Sea Shepherd has pursued the Japanese fleet for three months without catching up with the Nisshin Maru, which is the key vessel in the seven-ship operation. After shaking off a tailing Japanese trawler on Saturday, the Steve Irwin located Nisshin Maru and two harpoon-equipped catcher ships hidden among heavy ice in Porpoise Bay, which is about 2200 nautical miles south-west of Hobart. Captain Watson said they homed in on a signal from an electronic surveillance bug planted by activists on the catcher ship Yushin Maru No.2 He said while the catcher ships scattered, the Nisshin Maru broke out of the bay and steamed north last night with the Steve Irwin in pursuit. ''They seem to be heading for some nastier weather north of us,'' Captain Watson said. ''Perhaps they think they may be able to lose us. I hope not. ''It's been a long haul but finally we have our teeth in their stern. We will try to hold on for as long as fuel and weather allow us to do so.''

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