CO885-(23-24) — Page 71

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

49 1 CO 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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2. It was intended to return to Entebbe in September, and to complete this report there, but at the request of the military authorities I am remaining on the Lake in general supervision of a native patrol of the (unpopulated) islands. This, it may be added, assists rather than hinders bionomic investigations.

3. Plans for further work, based upon the results of that completed to date, involve actual consideration of an extensive experiment in artificial suppression of Glossina palpalis along a reach of mainland shore, and the reopening of a portion of the area now closed. Technically this appears possible the actual practica- bility of the scheme depends entirely upon the local conditions which must be met at the site of the proposed experiment. The work which will be prepared covers :—

(1) Confirmation of the technical results upon which success depends. (2) Estimation of actual difficulties and probable expense.

(3) The actual undertaking of the experiment.

The preliminary work is of relatively little value, except as it leads up to actual experimental demonstration.

4. In consequence, before expressing a willingness to remain on investigating work in Uganda, it is desired to receive positive assurance that the line of work out- lined will receive financial support, provided it is approved as practicable by the Uganda authorities, who are familiar with the needs of the situation, and the conditions which must be met. This cannot be asked except on the basis of the report now in process of preparation. Hence final decision must remain open until after its completion.

5. In the meantime the investigations are being continued on the islands for the purpose of confirming previous conclusions, and, so long as my presence is of any value in connection with local defence, this appears to be the only course which may be followed.

6. Inasmuch as connection with the Nyasaland Government automatically terminated on September 11th, I would like to be informed concerning the question of salary and expenses. It is presumed that the terms under which continued employment is offered are the same as before, since no mention is made of the matter in the despatches. Less liberal terms would hardly be acceptable. Otherwise the matter is left and will be left-solely in the hands of the Colonial Office and the Imperial Bureau of Entomology.

The Chief Secretary,

SIR,

Entebbe.

Enclosure 2 in No. 137.

I am, &c.,

WM. F. FISKE.

Principal Medical Officer's Office,

Entebbe, Uganda, 6th October, 1914.

I HAVE the honour to forward a letter to you from Mr. W. F. Fiske, dated Sesse, October 5th, which was addressed to my care in an unsealed cover.

2. In forwarding this letter I wish to point out, in connection with the experi- ment referred to in paragraph 3, that I have for some time wished Mr. Fiske to undertake, so soon as his data were sufficiently complete, an experiment on the main- land which would be a practical demonstration of the effect on Glossina palpalis of clearing carried out in the light of our most recent knowledge, and especially of the bionomic data collected by him.

3. Two areas on the mainland have been discussed with Mr. Fiske as being most suitable, from a practical point of view, for the purpose named, viz., that part of Chagwe lying between Buka Bay and Grant Bay, and the peninsula of Bussi, which lies immediately south of Entebbe.

4. The second area mentioned is, I believe, now under consideration by Mr. Fiske, and has been chosen for the reasons that (a) the area to be dealt with is smaller and is fairly well isolated; (b) the immediate benefit from re-opening this part of the closed area, should the experiment be successful, would be considerable; (c) that from its situation near to Entebbe it would be more easily supervised and controlled after re-opening; and (d) the experiment would be conveniently extended

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southwards in sections, consisting of peninsulas or isolated fly-areas, of which there are relatively few between Bussi and the southern boundary of the Protectorate, thus opening up the prospect of eventually freeing the whole of this coast-line from the restrictions imposed under Sleeping Sickness Regulations.

5. With regard to the three parts into which Mr. Fiske divides his proposed work, as laid down in paragraph (3) of his letter, the second part, or estimation of actual difficulties and probable expense, is, of course, of great importance to us. But I understand from Mr. Fiske that he does not anticipate that the expense would be in any way prohibitive, and we are agreed that there is very good ground for hope that the experiment may prove a success. I therefore recommend that, in case it proves practicable to carry it to a conclusion, he should receive whatever financial support may prove to be necessary.

47243

SIR,

(No. 477.)

I have, &c.,

A. D. P. HODGES,

No. 138.

UGANDA.

Principal Medical Officer,

Uganda Protectorate.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

Downing Street, 11th December, 1914. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Wallis's despatch No. 431 of the 13th of October,* transmitting a copy of a letter from Mr. W. F. Fiske

on the subject of his investigations and future employment in Uganda.

2. I gather that Mr. Fiske is willing to carry on work in Uganda under the Imperial Bureau of Entomology with the same remuneration as he has received hitherto while working for the Royal Society. Up to the 31st of March, 1915, funds will be available from Nyasaland for his salary, allowance, &c.; and I propose to include provision for his salary and allowance in 1915-16 on the Uganda Estimates for that year, before they are submitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. 3. On the information now supplied, there appears to be much to be said in favour of the experiment which Mr. Fiske proposes; but pending his submission of his final report to the Royal Society and the receipt of an estimate of the expenditure which the experiment will involve, I regret that I cannot commit myself to giving my approval. As soon as you are able to estimate the cost you should communicate with me, and I will then consider from what source the necessary funds could be obtained. In this connexion I may observe that no "central fund," such as Mr. Wallis indicates in the second paragraph of his despatch, exists.

4.

A copy of this correspondence is being sent to the Imperial Bureau of Entomology.

39518

• No. 137.

I have, &c.,

L. HARCOURT.

K

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APPENDIX.