CO885-(21-23) — Page 262

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC:

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

ing." In Enclosure No. 2, dated 30 November, 1910, sent with the same despatch, Mr. J. Innes Wilson speaks of South Georgia as the whalers' El Dorado, and alludes In his to the prospect of surpassing the record results of the preceding year. despatch dated 17 March, 1911,* Mr. Allardyce refers to the largest take on record" (paragraph 2), which has been obtained by the Norge Company, and to the "proportionate excitement and pleasure at the above highly satisfactory pecuniary results" (paragraph 3). On the next page of the same despatch there occurs, how- ever, what is probably the highly significant statement that although whales are still extremely plentiful they are going further south. It seems to be supposed that the existence of good harbours in Belgica Strait and Graham's Land is a sufficient provision for the future, in the event of the whales forsaking the South Shetlands,

&c.

6. The experience of other localities justifies the belief that what has happened in other parts of the world is likely to take place in South Georgia and its neigh- bourhood unless prompt steps are taken to regulate the pursuit of whales and seals. The assertion made by Mr. T. D. V. Best (22 November, 1910), that the sea elephant is in no danger of extermination there may be replied to by the fact that this species has been absolutely exterminated from Bass' Straits, while in the Macquarie, Crozet, Kerguelen, and Heard Islands, as well as on Tristan da Cunha, their numbers have been very greatly reduced. The history of the fur-seal traffic in the Northern Hemisphere (Bebring Sea), as well as in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, shows that the unrestricted slaughter, for purposes of profit, of these marine manimals cannot be indulged in without serious detriment to the welfare of the species concerned.

7. The history of whaling points in the same direction. The Greenland whale, by far the most valuable species, has been reduced so greatly that the British pursuit of that species is nearly, if not quite, extinct. The North Atlantic right whale, which comes next in value, was at one time nearly exterminated by the Basque whalers, although it has somewhat recovered in recent years, probably in consequence of the cessation of the persecution to which it had been subjected. The humpback and several species of rorqual have been almost driven out of Norwegian waters, although they are being hunted-probably with far too much vigour-from whaling stations in the Shetlands and off the west coast of Ireland.

8. The Trustees cannot too strongly call attention to the grave danger of a repetition in southern waters of the process of extermination which has been so effective in other localities.

9. With regard to whales it may be suggested that a system of accurately recording the locality, date of capture, sex, and species of every individual killed might do much to settle the important question whether the schools of humpback found off South Georgia have anything to do with those which are hunted in South Africa. In the case of some species of whales the females have been observed to herd separately during a part of the year. It should be ascertained whether this is the case with the humpbacks of South Georgia; and if it is so the hunting of females at this season might be prohibited with advantage. But whatever the result of these enquiries might be, it is probably essential to regulate in some way the number killed if the Antarctic whales are not to be decimated in number within the next few years. It ought to be in the interest even of those engaged in the trade to avoid anything like extermination.

10. With regard to the seals (and particularly the sea elephant) an attempt should be made to estimate the number of individuals in the islands, with the view of fixing the number allowed to be killed. In the case of polygamous species (fur- seals and () sea elephants), only the "bachelors" (young males) should be killed. The proper percentage could probably be ascertained by communicating with the United States Fish Commission at Washington. Attention might also he called to the wasteful practice of killing hair-seals and making no use of their skins.

11. I am to transmit to you copy of lists of the species of seals and whales wanting protection. The lists have been prepared by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, a member of the Board of Trustees, who has made a special study of these animals.

12. With regard to paragraph 7 of Mr. Fiddes's letter, I am to state that the Trustees would willingly co-operate with Mr. Secretary Harcourt in taking step with a view to arriving at a general international agreement dealing with the matter.

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I am to suggest, for Mr. Harcourt's consideration, that it might be desirable to consult the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, forwarding him a copy of this letter, in order to ascertain his opinion as regards the advisability of an inter- national conference being held in London or elsewhere.

The matter is one of primary importance to a maritime nation like Great

Britain.

Enclosure in No. 1.

I am, &c.,

L. FLETCHER.

LISTS OF SEALS AND WHALES REQUIRING PROTECTION: PREPARED BY THE HON. Walter ROTHSCHILD,

SEALS, SEA LIONS, SEA ELEPHANTS.

Otaria byronia, Blainville—Otaria jubata, ante.

Southern Sea Lion.

Patagonia, Falkland Islands, Tierra del Fuego. Otaria velutina, Philippi.

Gallapagos Sea Lion.

Gallapagos Islands, and Coasts of Peru and Northern Chili. Zalophus lobatus, Gray.

Australian Sea Lion.

Southern Ocean, New Zealand, and Southern Japan.

Phocarctos hookeri, Gray.

Hooker's Sea Lion. Auckland Island.

killing for 20 years.

Wants special protection; absolute prohibition of

Arctocephalus australis, Zimmermann.

Southern Fur Seal.

Gallapagos Islands, Falkland Islands, Rio Janeiro to Cape Horo, and Chili to Straits of Magellan. Wants special protection-15 years

at least.

Arctocephalus gracilis, Behring.

Brazilian Fur Seal.

South Brazilian coasts. Special protection. Arctocephalus gazella, Peters.

Kerguelen Fur Seal. Kerguelen Island.

Wants special protection. Arctocephalus pusillus, Schreben. Little Fur Seal.

Cape Seas and Crozet Islands. Wants special protection on Crozet

Islands.

Arctocephalus forsteri, Lesson.

Australian Fur Seal,

Australia, New Zealand and adjacent islands.

total prohibition for 20 years.

Aretocephalus elegans, Peters.

St. Paul Fur Seal.

St. Paul and Amsterdam Islands. Mirounga proboscidea, Perron.

Wants special protection;

Wants special protection.

Wants special protection; totul prohibition for

Macquarie Islands Sea Elephant. Macquarie Islands.

25 years at least. Mirounga kerguelensis, Peters.

33292

Kerguelen Sea Elephant. Kerguelen and Herd Islands.

prohibition.

Wants special protection; 10 years'

A 2

Mirounga patagonica, Gray.

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Southern Sea Elephant.

Falkland Islands, South Shetlands, and Crozet Islands.

protection; 10 years' prohibition at least.

Black or Pot Whales.

WHALES.

Globicephalus melas, Traill.

Cape Seas and Falkland Islands.

Globicephalus macrorhynchus, Gray.

South Pacific Ocean.

False Killers.

Pseudorca crassidens, Owen.

Killers.

South Seas.

Orca capensis, Gray.

Wants special