CO885-(21-23) — Page 261

Subject.

Page.

70

Forwards a copy of a letter to the Dundee Chamber of Commerce asking for observations with regard to the decay of the whaling industry as carried on from Dundee, and of the reply thereto; and adds that the Board are obtaining further informa- tion on the Dundee whaling industry through certain of their officers.

Memorandum on whales and whaling.....

CORRESPONDENCE

RESPECTING THE

PROTECTION OF WHALES AND THE

WHALING INDUSTRY.

41

Dr. S. F. Harmer,

November 7

80

British Museum

(Natural History).

42

Interdepartmental

December 10

Minutes of the second meeting...

88

Whaling Com- mittee.

34921

43

Colonial Office

December 31

Memorandum Colouies.

on

whaling in

the

89

APPENDIX.

Whaling Legislation in the British Empire ...

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

No. 1.

BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received October 30, 1911.)

(Confidential.)

Page

97

SIR,

1.

British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W.,

27th October, 1911. ADVERTING to the question of the protection of whales and sea elephants in southern seas, the Trustees of the British Museum have given careful considera- tion to Mr. Fiddes's letter, No. 14488/1911, of the 3rd June last,* and to the state- ments and statistics given in the correspondence which accompanied that letter.

2. I am to submit the following observations for Mr. Secretary Harcourt's information.

It is impossible to read the correspondence without very serious misgivings. The figures quoted in the reports signed " J. Innes Wilson, Magistrate," enclosed with the report dated 17 December, 1910,† from Mr. W. L. Allardyce, Governor of the Falkland Islands, entirely bear out the general accuracy of Mr. J. A. Mörch's statements which were communicated to the Colonial Office in a letter from this Department dated 3rd May last.

It appears from these figures that during a period of twelve months (October 1, 1909, to September 30, 1910), the shore and floating stations at South Georgia obtained 3,516 specimens, representing five of the largest species of whales, and that no less than 3,391 of these were humpbacks. The total value of the products is given as £251,077. The Report, 1908, of the Natal Fisheries Department alludes (p. 4) to the establishment of a whaling station in Natal, and to the capture of 106 whales during a period of four or five months.

3. This Museum has had more recent evidence showing that the number of South African whaling stations is increasing, and that a large proportion of the individuals killed are humpbacks. It is by no means improbable that the schools of humpbacks which visit the South African coast during a certain part of the year may be identical with those which are found off South Georgia at other times. It is thus greatly to be feared that the persecution of the humpback is being carried on at two very different localities, and that the species may be quite unable to resist so vigorous and determined an attack.

4. There seems to be no indication whatever that there is any disposition on the part of those locally concerned to exercise a reasonable amount of foresight and caution.

"

5. The local reports contain many references to the profitable nature of the enterprise. Mr. Allardyce states (17 December, 1910), that the whaling industry in South Georgia is “ highly remunerative," and that its prospects are most encourag.

14188; not printed.

• Not printel.

33292

† Enclosure in 2216: not printed.

A

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO.