PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
2.
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with the African Entomological Research Committee which this Government has been able to arrange.
Professor Harrison in his letter of the 5th instant, a copy of which is also enclosed, states that Mr. Stockdale's proposals meet with the approval of the Scientific Secretary of the Society with whom the delegates discussed matters in Trinidad at the recent Agricultural Conference.
3. If, however, Professor Harrison rightly gathered that the co-operation of the African Research Committee is contingent on a monetary grant from this Colony, then I share Sir Frederic Hodgson's doubt as to such a grant being obtainable.
4. Probably I shall receive a communication from the Committee or from Dr. Watts shortly.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure 1 in No. 12.
DIRECTOR, Science and Agriculture,
CHARLES T. COX.
I HAVE Consulted with the Bacteriologist and the Economic Biologist over this matter. They are prepared to co-operate as far as is feasible in this matter, and the following briefly summarizes the position :---
(1) The Bacteriologist has from time to time during the past four years made collections of blood-sucking flies, mosquitoes, &c., and these have been These experts sent to various experts in England for identification. are all included in the new Committee. Many identifications have been made, but owing to the methods adopted by these experts in working through the collections there are still many that have yet to be forwarded to Dr. Wise.
(2) A standard collection of mosquitoes, biting flies, and snakes has been commenced by the Bacteriological Department and is being added to as opportunity offers and as identifications are received from England.
(3) A very extensive collection of insects has been commenced in the Museum of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society, and is being added to. A very large number of these are not economic in importance, and many are yet unnamed.
(4) A collection of insect pests of agricultural plants and products is being commenced by the Economic Biologist, and investigations with their life-histories, &c., are being undertaken.
2. From the above it may be gathered that the Bacteriological Department has already made extensive collections. They now have little or no time for collecting themselves. Dr. Wise, however, has stated that he will probably have sufficient material sent in to him by the District Medical Officers to be able to supply the Committee with one paper, along the lines of Entomological Research, every twelve or fifteen months.
3. The Economic Biologist and Veterinary Surgeon can be materially assisted in their work by this Committee. They will require identifications of insects, &c., and other assistance, and it seems to me to be more desirable that these identifications should be procured through a central Committee than by sending specimens to different countries to individual collectors, &c. It is essential, however, that the identifications should be given to us quickly. I have known of instances where identifications have taken years to procure, and if the Committee can assure us The Committee can of quick determination they will be of great value to us. also be of assistance by being at our service for bibliographical reference purposes. Often references to original descriptions, &c., are needed, and this is not possible in our libraries.
In
The Economic Biologist has already drawn up a plan of work to commence in April next. This will include research on sugar-cane pests and their parasites, rice pests, and the fruit flies of the Colony. The more technical details of these researches could perhaps be usefully published in the Committee's Journal. these researches our district officers will be able to assist, as they have ample opportunities to collect specimens from their districts. The Veterinary Surgeon has, I believe, made considerable research in connection with the transmission
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of diseases in cattle by insects, and would doubtless be glad to co-operate with the Committee.
5. The museum would, I am sure, be pleased to co-operate with the Committee if they could obtain identifications for many of their specimens. Their authorities, however, do little, if any, research-they are collectors purely.
6. I would therefore suggest that a Local Entomological Research Committee be formed for this Colony to consist of the Director of Science and Agriculture, the Government Bacteriologist, the Assistant Director of Science and Agriculture and the Government Botanist, the Economic Biologist, the Government Veterinary Sur- geon, and the Science Lecturer. Of this Committee the Director of Science and Agriculture should be Chairman and the Economic Biologist be the Honorary Secre- tary. The Local Committee would decide upon all collections of insects which it is desired should be sent for identifications and all matters sent for publication, and would consider any proposals that the Entomological Research Committee might make for collection and investigation that it desired to be made in the Colony. The District Officers of the Department of Science and Agriculture would act as the collectors or collecting agents for the Local Committee in the country districts.
7. As the Scientific Secretary of the Entomological Research Committee will be visiting Trinidad during the forthcoming Agricultural Conference and may possibly pay a fleeting visit to the Colony, it might be useful to obtain his views before the various suggestions are submitted from this Colony to the Secretary of State. I think that in the Government's reply stress should be made on Dr. Wise's collections already distributed about England, as it would most probably be much simpler for the Research Committee to obtain these collections than it would be for us to make fresh collections in the Colony. I saw some of these collections for the first time when I was in England recently, and was impressed by them. January 12, 1912.
F. A. STOCKDALE.
Enclosure 2 in No. 12.
From the DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE to the GOVERNMENT SECRETARY. Science and Agriculture Department,
SIR,
Georgetown, Demerara, 5th February, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 2338/11, of January 20th, 1912.
2. I met the Scientific Secretary of the Committee of the African Entomo- logical Research Committee whilst attending the recent Agricultural Conference in Trinidad. I communicated to him the substance of Mr. Stockdale's report and have supplied him with a copy of it. The proposals in it met with his approval.
3. As I believe I anticipated in one of my minutes to, or at an interview with, you on this subject one of the principal objects of the Scientific Secretary's presence at the Conference, and of the African Entomological Research Committee's sugges- tion of co-operative work, is that of an annual subvention to that Committee from the various West Indian Colonies. The advantages offered in return for such sub- vention were fully detailed by the Scientific Secretary in meetings of a Conference Committee appointed to consult with him. It was very clearly apparent to the Committee that the co-operation of the African Entomological Research Committee is entirely dependent on such a subvention being made to it. Some representatives of West Indian Colonies at a meeting of the Committee held that the Colonies should be asked at first for small amounts which, if granted, would act as the thin end of the wedge" for future increased demands. I strongly opposed this line of action stating that, in my opinion, the respective Colonies which may be approached for annual contributions ought to be informed what are the maximum contributions likely to be sought from each of them and not what is the minimum amount required. This view was not, I fear, accepted by the majority of those present, and I believe that the amount decided upon as probably sufficient £250 per annum as a conjoint grant from Trinidad, British Guiana, Barbados, the Windward and Leeward Islands-although higher than that proposed as the "thin end of the wedge" is probably one not much more than half-way up its gradient.
4.
I pointed out to the Scientific Secretary and to the members of the Com- mittee that I was not in a position to pledge this Colony to any contribution to the African Research Committee, and that the question of such contribution was not one solely vested in the Executive Government of the Colony but in its Combined