PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
6
Reference :-
H.C.O. 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
70
(4) A
ม
APPENDICES.
(These notes are principally general memoranda made while reading the literature relating to the Cetacea.)
Rotax file, with manuscript notes.
(5) A "Rotax" file, with official papers (printed).
(6) A black note book, with loose papers enclosed. (This book, the loose papers, and item (8), together contain practically all the information col- lected by Major Barrett-Hamilton at South Georgia.)
(7) A Kodak film-case, with six photographs.
(8) A "University" writing-pad, with notes on whales examined. (9) A few maps.
(10) A typewritten copy of Major Barrett-Hamilton's Journal kept on
the voyage to, and during his stay at, South Georgia.
(11) Some letters or extracts from letters sent by Major Barrett-Hamilton to
Mr. C. E. Fagan, I.S.O., and to Dr. S. F. Harmer, F.R.S. Early in the present year Dr. Harmer handed me the reports made to the British Museum by four of the companies working at South Georgia, on the whales caught by them during the season 1913-1914, and the tables which Dr. Harmer himself had drawn up from these reports.
On 10th July, 1914, I submitted a "Preliminary Memorandum,"* in which a summary of the results of Major Barrett-Hamilton's work was given. Since that date I have been working constantly at this complete report in the hope of arriving at an accurate appreciation of the facts collected at South Georgia by my late friend and of their bearing upon the serious problems presented by the whaling industry of the South Atlantic.
Between 14th November, 1913, and 18th January, 1914, Major Barrett-Hamilton examined and measured 294 whales, belonging to four species, as follows:-
Genus Megaptera.
Humpbacks, M. nodosa?
Genus Balanoptera.
Finners, B. physalus, var.
Blue whales, B. musculus, Linn, var.
Genus Physeter.
Sperm whales, P. macrocephalus
Total
57
184
50
3
294
Major Barrett-Hamilton devoted special care to the study of the female organs of generation and lactation, and of the foetuses, with a view to acquiring informa- tion on the little known breeding habits of the whales-a matter of which accurate knowledge is of vital importance if the whaling industry is to continue on modern lines without resulting in what appears at present to be the inevitable and speedy extinction of all the larger Cetacea.
Unfortunately, Major Barrett-Hamilton did not live long enough to digest the facts which he collected, to formulate any definite recommendations as to the future regulation of the whaling industry in the South Atlantic, nor even to draft a rough outline of the report which he doubtless contemplated making to the Colonial Office and the Trustees of the British Museum. Neither did he have time to consider a great deal of very important Norwegian literature. In these circumstances my task has been one of considerable difficulty. It would have been easy to have delivered a bald catalogue of the facts collected at South Georgia, but I felt that such a docu- ment would be of little use. I have, therefore, taken Major Barrett-Hamiltou's notes and, after much collation with the work of other observers, have endeavoured Major to prepare a report on the lines of that which he may have had in view. Barrett-Hamilton discussed his plans with me shortly before he left England, and the memory of that discussion has given me a certain amount of confidence in attempting to carry his work through to its natural end.
A few words on the general scheme of this report may, having regard to its length, be of use. In the first part the species are dealt with in the following order: sei-whales," right whales, and sperm whales. -humpbacks, finners, blue whales, Under the heading of each there is given a list of all the specimens examined, with their dates of capture, sex, and length in feet.
* Appendix VI.
APPENDICES.
71
Then, in the case of each of the first three species, which are the chief ones hunted at South Georgia, follow sections dealing with the size, body proportions, colour, and other zoological characters; for these sections Major Barrett-Hamilton's own descriptive words have been used wherever possible; where necessary, com- parison is made with the characters of the representatives of these species in the North Atlantic. The notes made on the genital organs of each whale are set out in full because they are of great scientific and practical importance; it is much to be hoped that similar full observations will be made in the future wherever an oppor tunity may occur. These notes are followed by a list of the foetuses with their measurements and dates. The account of each species is concluded by a discussion of its breeding habits and migrations, in which an attempt is made to determine the nature, duration, and time of the breeding season, and to review all the available information concerning these highly important matters.
The second part of the report deals with the present state and prospects of the whaling industry at South Georgia and in the South Atlantic generally. The very serious questions relating to the threatened extinction of the species upon which the industry mainly depends are here fully discussed.
Certain recommendations which Major Barrett-Hamilton appears to have intended to make are embodied in the report, and I have ventured, after much reflec- tion on the materials before me, to make some suggestions for the future regulation of the industry.
Some facts relating to the whaling industry in the North Atlantic are given also, because they seem to afford a certain analogy with those from the southern hemisphere; they may, as past experience, assist present judgment.
The general conclusions arrived at in this report agree with those foreshadowed in the Preliminary Memorandum. The large amount of work done and the many literary discoveries made since the latter document was prepared have led naturally to the modification of a good many details.
I have to express my best thanks to Dr. S. F. Harmer, F.R S., for much courtesy and kindly advice in connexion with this report; to Professor J. Stanley Gardiner, F.R.S., Mr. A. H. Cocks, M.A., and Mr. J E. Hamilton, M.Sc., for much kindness.
HUMPBACK WHales (MegaPTERA NODOSA?).
Material examined.-Fifty-seven humpbacks (of which 20 were males and 37 females) were landed at Leith Harbour, South Georgia, between 15th November, 1913, and 16th January, 1914. All these whales were examined by Major Barrett- Hamilton; the following list gives the sex, number, date of capture, and the total length of each specimen. The total length was measured in a straight line from the tip of the mandible to the notch of the caudal flukes.
ו.
::;
FEMALES.
MALES.
Number.
Date of Capture.
Length la Feet. Number.
Date of Capture.
Length in Feet.
1918.
1918.
5
November 15
86.7
November 15
7
17
88
9
18
++
47 circa 89-5
17
26
42
12
24
50 circa
27
December 8
42
18
25
47
81
4
40.9
14
25
49-75
"
49
19
85
+1
28 December 8
34-6
58
18
49.5
48
19
45
$1
ม
57
18
45.5
+7
52
18
88-25
"
62
19
45
54
18
#!
48-75
"
70
20
45.75
59
19
45-5
109
26
25.6
69
20
T
"
48-5
199
29
46
+7
94
24
42
11
97
24
11
50-5
1914.
106
26
11
46-5
162
January 2
44.5
126
29
48
"
179
5
88
186
80
46
"
182
5
45.75
146
81
50
E
13
194
5
11
28
151
81
"
47
212
7
45.5
152
81
46
"
225
25
"
158
81
48
"
226
8
44
290
16
82-25 (without mandible)
72
APPENDICES.