On application made in the prescribed manner by the owner or charterer of any British ship to which this Act applies, or by the occupier of any factory situate in Great Britain, and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, the licensing authority shall, subject to the following provisions of this Act, grant to the applicant a licence in the prescribed form authorising that ship or factory to be used for taking whales or for treating whales, as the case may require.

A licence granted under this section shall, unless previously cancelled under this Act, continue in force for one year from the day specified in the licence as the day on which it takes effect F1or for such shorter period beginning on the said day as may be specified in the licence; and subject to the provisions of the last preceding subsection, different fees may be charged in respect of the grant of licences for different periods.

The licensing authority may, if they think fit, refuse to grant a licence under this section to any person who has been convicted of an offence under this Act.