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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

FMC.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ference to consider the question of the protection and preservation of whales, I have

the honour to reply that my Ministers have no objection to offer.

2. I invite attention to the report of the Minister of Marine and Fisheries which was forwarded to you by Sir Ralph Williams as an annexure to his despatch Confidential of the 22nd October, 1912.*

In continuance of that paper I annex copy of a further report dated the 11th instant from Mr. Piccott with regard to the present position of the whale fishery in Newfoundland. It will be noted that the catch for the year 1912 shows a still further decrease in the number of whales killed. The results of the present year's fishery up to date are very poor.

The floating factory mentioned in Mr. Piccott's report of 1912 has ceased opera- tions and has left Newfoundland waters, and the number of steamers is six only this year as compared with eight last year.

It it my belief that the scarcity of whales is not attributable to any great diminu- tion in the stock of whales, but to the fact that the whales are intelligent creatures, and have decided to avoid waters where they are subject to attack.

The fishery under present conditions is not remunerative and the business will probably be suspended or abandoned. The loss of capital invested in the industry --most of it British and mainly contributed in Newfoundland-is most regrettable.

I have, &c.,

SIR,

Enclosure in No. 31.

W. E. DAVIDSON.

Department of Marine and Fisheries,

St. John's, Newfoundland, June 11, 1913.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of file of papers from your office in reference to the proposed International Conference regarding the protection of

whales.

I have very little to add to my report of August 14th, 1912.

The fishery for the year 1912 shows a further decrease in the number of whales caught, the number totalling 289 as compared with 335 in the year 1911. Of these 60 were sulphurs, 202 finbacks, 5 sperm and 22 humpbacks.

The outfit for the present season consists of only 6 steamers as compared with 8 for last year's operation.

The floating factory mentioned in my last letter has ceased operating and left Newfoundland waters. This falling off is due entirely to scarcity of whales and the

consequent inability to make the venture a remunerative one.

I regret to say that from a commercial standpoint it would appear that it is only a matter of time when the entire fishery from Newfoundland ports will be abandoned, and that, from the disastrous results financially, it would require very great inducements to encourage further investments. I have therefore no further recommendations to put forward.

Any extension of the limit of control of the sea on the coasts of Newfoundland would be complicated by the proximity of the French Island of St. Pierre to the south coast of this Colony.

I return herewith the papers forwarded, and, while regretting that this Depart- ment possesses very little information on the subject of whales and their habits, I shall be only too pleased to co-operate in any way possible towards a better knowledge of this interesting matter.

Hon. R. Watson,

Colonial Secretary.

I have, &c..

A. W. PICCOTT, Minister of Marine and Fisheries.

29140

No. 32.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE INTER- DEPARTMENTAL WHALING COMMITTEE, ON 12TH AUGUST, 1913, AT 3 P.M., AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

PRESENT:

Mr. MAURICE (Chairman, provisionally).

Mr. LAMB.

Mr. SPERLING.

Mr. BAKER.

Mr. DARNLEY.

Mr. WILLIAMS (Secretary).

In the absence of two members of the Committee, Mr. Holt and Mr. Vernon,

it was not thought practicable to elect definitively a Chairman. Mr. Maurice took the Chair provisionally.

Mr. Maurice opened proceedings by referring to the terms of reference:"To consider measures to be laid before an International Conference with a view to the protection of whales and the regulation of the whaling industry," and raised the question whether the need for the protection of the whales was to be regarded as an established fact. It was desirable to get clear at the outset what further infor- mation on various points was required. Mr. Sperling pointed out that another ques- tion was whether particular species should be specially preserved. It was observed that the "Rothschild List" furnished by the British Museum was drawn up from the standpoint of a naturalist, whereas the relative commercial value of the various species had also to be taken into account.

Mr. Lamb, recurring to the point first raised, asked whether the Committee was to take evidence as to the need for protection, and, if so, from what sources.

Mr. Baker thought that the successful exploitation of the industry within recent years, and the large number of whales taken, had led to the impression-which required fuller confirmation-that protection was needed. It was, however, pointed out that the British Museum authorities had adduced arguments in support of the contention that the whale was in danger of extermination, in their letter to the Colonial Office of the 27th October, 1911, which had already been laid before the Committee.

Mr. Maurice considered that more detailed evidence was needed, and since the British Museum had taken the initiative by calling attention to the matter, they had better he invited to furnish a detailed memorandum setting out their views.

Mr. Lamb suggested that the Chamber of Commerce. Dundee, should also be invited by the Board of Trade to give information on the subject.

It was decided to ask accordingly for information from these two sources. Mr. Maurice promised to obtain informally the views of the Norwegian Director of Fisheries and of a representative of the United States Fisheries Commission.

The question of the relative commercial values of the various species of whales was again mentioned, and Mr. Darnley pointed out that the whaling industry was now largely a South Atlantic industry, and that the chief species pursued was the blue, fin, humpback, and right whales. The relative values of the species pursued were approximately known, and papers on the subject had been laid.

Mr. Maurice mentioned incidentally the rise of a new industry-that of extract- ing oil from fish, the development of which would need watching. Mr. Darnley observed that a Norwegian firm was about to experiment in it in South Georgia. He added that the price of whale oil depended on the price ruling in the general market for vegetable oils, for which it was a substitute.

It

Turning to consider other special points on which further information should be procured, Mr. Maurice expressed the opinion that evidence should be sought as to the extent of the areas of migration and the seasonal appearances of whales. was decided to ask the British Museum to give assistance on this subject as well.

Mr. Darnley observed that Major Barrett Hamilton, who was going out to the Falklands on a biological mission, would probably be available to give evidence before. the Committee about May next year.

• No. 14.

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