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nise as dangerous. He has no reason to think that the conditions of the whales' food supply have altered in any way.

Canada:

On the Atlantic Coast there is one land station on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence served by two steam whalers. In 1912 89 whales were taken, of On the which 30 were sulphur-bottoms, 58 finbacks, and 1 a North Cape whale. Pacific Coast there are four stations served by 10 steam whalers. In 1912 1,109 whales were taken. Of these 528 were humpbacks, 395 finbacks, 167 sulphur- bottoms, and 19 sperm. All parts of the whale are utilized.

The appropriate value of the products of the Atlantic Coast station in 1912 was $95,000; that of the products of the four Pacific Coast stations was $536,938.

No floating factories are licensed.

23 May, 1913.

19327

SIR,

No. 27.

AUSTRALIA.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Confidential.)

(Received 7 June, 1913.)

Governor-General's Office, Melbourne, 28th April, 1913. WITH reference to your Confidential despatch, dated 11th July last, and in continuation of my Confidential despatch, dated 1st February, 1913,* with regard to a proposal that steps should be taken with a view to convening an International Conference to consider the question of the protection and preservation of whales, I have the honour to inform you that the several State Governments were asked to furnish information on the following points :-

(1) The number of whaling companies at work within the State.

(2) The equipment and result of operations.

(3) The conditions under which the work is carried on---licences, privileges,

&c., granted.

2. I now enclose, for your information, a précis of the replies which have been received.

59

Queensland-No such industry has yet been started on the Queensland coast, nor have negotiations with that object in view reached the stage at which it would become necessary to prescribe the conditions for carrying on the same.

Tasmania. There are no whaling companies at present working in Tasmania. Western Australia :—

1. At the present time the Western Australian Company, Limited, of Norway,

is the only company at work within this State.

2.-(a) One steamship of about 3,000 tons, used as a floating factory; four steam whalers, averaging about 80 tons each.

(b) Up to the present date about 250 whales (the majority of the hump-backed variety) have been captured.

(c) In round figures, 100 men are now being engaged by the company.

3. (a) By an exclusive licence operating within the coastal waters from Steep Point, immediately to the south of Dirk Hartog Island to Cape Lambert, rear

Cossack.

(b) Within twelve months from the commencement of this grant, to establish within the said area or on the mainland on land lawfully acquired by the grantee under the provisions of the Land Act, 1898, or otherwise a factory and works for the treatment of whales, whale blubber, and other material derived from whales, and to provide all necessary plant and machinery for that purpose, the amount of capital to be expended thereon during such period being not less than £5,000.

(c) To commence the industry of a whale fishery and to establish a factory (as per b) within twelve months from the commencement of the grant and thereafter maintain and continue such industry as a going concern, and to keep and maintain the factory, works, plant and machinery in effective condition.

(d) To capitalise the industry (including the factory); to a total amount of not less than £100,000.

(e) To carry out within the State the entire treatment of all whales, whale blubber, and other such material taken or obtained by the grantee under the licence and obtained by it in any place within the State or the coastal waters thereof whilst such licence is in force.

(f) No Asiatic and no aboriginal native of Africa or the islands of the Pacific shall be employed by the grantee.

19469

No. 28.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

I have, &c.,

DENMAN,

Governor-General.

Enclosure in No. 27.

New South Wales.-There are at present two companies working in New South Wales waters (exclusive of the small station at Twofold Bay), with floating factories, One of the com- and no licences of special privileges have been granted to either. panies has only just commenced operations, but the other has been at work for nearly two months with most gratifying success. They are both located in Jervis Bay.

South Australia.-There are no whaling companies at work within this State, and there are no records of the industry having been carried on during the last 40

As to

years.

Victoria.-There are no whaling companies at work within this State. the licences, privileges, &c., which would be granted to whaling companies, all reasonable facilities for acquiring leases of sites for shore works, &c., and for carrying on operations, would be given, subject to the ordinary health and harbour regulations, and to Government approval of the sites.

• Nos. 7 and 20.

SIR,

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 9 June, 1913.)

(Confidential.)

Government House, Stanley, 25th April, 1913.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of 5th March,* requesting me to furnish you with a list of the whaling licences which will be in force in the South Shetlands and Graham's Land, the South Orkney and Sandwich Islands during the season 1913-14, and, in reply, to enclose a return containing the particulars which you desired.

2. With regard to the name of the company formed to work the licence which stood in Mr. Bryde's name, I would refer you to my despatch, No. 47, of 14th Marcht on the subject of the renewal of the licence for the South Orkneys granted to Mr. Bryde last year on behalf of the Pacific Whaling Company. As far as Mr. Nielsen and Mr. Christensen are concerned I may draw your attention to the fact that no licences have at present been issued for the Sandwich Islands.

I have, &c.,

W. L. ALLARDYCE,

Governor.

• 18281/12; not printed.

33292

† 12356 not printed.

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