CO885-(23-24) — Page 279

PUBLIC

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Reference :-

minimhini C.O. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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No. 5.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS (4TH TO 7TH INCLUSIVE) OF THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL WHALING COMMITTEE HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

THE business of the Fourth Meeting (25th February) consisted of the hearing of the evidence of Mr. W. L. Allardyce, C.M.G. (Governor of the Falkland Islands), and of Captain Bruun, Managing Director of a Norwegian whaling company, operating at Belmullet, in County Mayo.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

MR. MAURICE (in the Chair).

MR. BAKER.

MR. DARNLEY.

MR. HOLT.

MR. LAMB.

MR. VERNON.

MR. WILLIAMS (Secretary),

At the Fifth Meeting (24th April), the evidence was taken of Mr. Holman Kingdon, Managing Director of the firm of Messrs. Joseph Crosfield and Sons. Limited, respecting the commercial uses of whale oil, with special reference to the "hardening process."

MEMBERS PRESENT:

MR. DARNLEY (in the Chair).

MR. WILLIAMS (Secretary).

Owing to an insufficient attendance, it was not found practicable to do any business besides hearing the evidence of the witness.

At the Sixth Meeting (30th April), the evidence was taken of Mr. C. O. Johnson, a Director of the Southern Whaling and Sealing Company, Limited.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

MR. DARNLEY (in the Chair). MR. BAKER.

MR. WILLIAMS (Secretary),

When the witness had withdrawn, the question (referred to the Committee by the Colonial Office) was considered of an annual contribution of £100 from the funds of the Falkland Islands to the expenses of an Anglo-Swedish Biological Station in Graham Land, in the event of such a station being established with the assistance Mr. Maurice, who was unable to be of a grant from the Imperial Exchequer. present, had made a written statement of his views, which was circulated to Members. Mr. Holt had written to say that he was in general agreement with the views expressed by Mr. Maurice.

Mr. Darnley observed that the British Museum authorities appeared satisfied with the composition of the Committee of Swedish scientists, by whom the scheme was being promoted, and thought that the Committee should follow their lead and recommend a grant from Falkland Islands funds, subject to a grant being made from the Imperial Exchequer and to certain other conditions.

Mr. Baker thought that more information would first have to be obtained as to what was intended before any opinion could be formed on the general merits of the scheme. This, however, was not a matter on which the Committee's advice was sought, and would have to be settled between the Treasury and the British Museum. Such being the case, Mr. Baker expressed his agreement with the draft recommen- dation put forward by Mr. Darnley, which was in the following terms:-

"The Committee recommend that, if the proposed biological station in Graham Land is thought to be of sufficient value to justify a contribution from the Imperial Exchequer, a contribution of £100 a year should also be invited from the funds of the Falkland Islands, subject to a satisfactory pro- gramme of work relating to whaling being drawn up and carried out, and otherwise on conditions generally similar to any which may be attached to the Imperial grant."

It was decided to seek Mr. Maurice's concurrence in the draft recommendation provisionally approved.

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At the Seventh Meeting (7th May), the evidence was taken of Dr. Johan Hjort, Director of Fisheries at Bergen.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

MR. MAURICE (in the Chair). MR. BAKER.

MR. DARNLEY.

MR. WILLIAMS (Secretary).

Dr. Hjort promised to furnish the Committee in the early autumn with a detailed memorandum on the questions touched upon in his evidence, and expressed his readiness to appear again before the Committee, if so desired, to answer any questions which might be raised by his memorandum. He also promised to collect information on whaling questions in the Antarctic, by an arrangement with the Norwegian Whaling Companies, during the ensuing Southern summer (1914-15). This information might not be available before the Committee reported, but might be expected to be of considerable value and general interest.

Before the meeting adjourned, Mr. Maurice expressed his concurrence in the recommendation provisionally agreed upon at the previous meeting, and it was finally approved.

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No. 6.

DECREE REGULATING THE WHALE FISHERY ON THE COASTS AND IN THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF FRENCH COLONIES. (Received in Colonial Office, 21st May, 1914.)

MINISTÈRE DES COLONIES.

Rapport au Président de la République FRANCAISE.

MONSIEUR LE PRÉSIDENT,

Paris, le 12 avril 1914.

DEPUIS plusieurs années, un certain nombre de sociétés étrangères se sont livrées à la pêche et à l'exploitation industrielle de la baleine et autres cétacés sur les côtes et dans les eaux territoriales des colonies françaises, notamment à Mada- gascar et au Gabon.

Aucun acte administratif n'a encore fixé les conditions dans lesquelles les sociétés intéressées, qui ont bénéficié jusqu'ici d'autorisations accordées par les administrations locales, pourraient exercer cette industrie, qui a procuré à certaines d'entre elles des bénéfices souvent considérables.

En raison de cette situation, plusieurs gouverneurs de nos possessions ont demandé qu'une règlementation intervienne pour déterminer ces conditions, ainsi que l'établissement, au profit des budgets locaux des colonies, de certaines redevances et taxes à percevoir des sociétés auxquelles une concession de pêche serait accordée.

Dans cet ordre d'idées, j'ai, d'accord avec M. le ministre des affaires étrangères, et M. le ministre de la marine, constitué sous la présidence de M. Edmond Perrier, menibre de l'Institut, directeur du Muséum d'histoire naturelle, une commission interministérielle, comprenant des spécialistes et des représentants des départements ci-dessus indiqués, que j'ai chargée de préparer la règlementation dont il s'agit.

C'est le résultat des travaux de cette commission que j'ai l'honneur de soumettre aujourd'hui à votre haute sanction.

Il a été tenu compte dans la rédaction du projet de décret des desiderata et observations formulées par les gouverneurs de nos colonies où se pratique actuelle- ment la pêche aux cétacés. Les dispositions qu'il renferme ne font d'ailleurs que poser des règles générales applicables à toutes nos possessions. Quant aux mesures d'application et de détail, qui peuvent varier d'une colonie à une autre, il a été prévu qu'elles seront fixées par arrêtés des gouverneurs pris en conseil.

J'ai, en conséquence, l'honneur de vous prier de vouloir bien revêtir ce projet de décret de votre signature.

Je vous prie d'agréer, monsieur le Président, l'hommage de mon profond respect.

Le ministre des colonies.

A. LEBRUN.

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