CO885-24 — Page 368

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C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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6.

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Copies of correspondence* with the Governor of Uganda as to the employ- ment of Mr. W. F. Fiske were received. Mr. Read informed the Committee that a telegram had recently been sent to the Governor to the effect that Mr. Fiske should be kept entirely to his own special work.

7. A report by the Government Bacteriologist in Hong Kong for the first half of the year 19141 was received. Dr. Ilarmer pointed out one or two errors in the list of species as printed.

Mr. Marshall explained that it had been believed at one time that there was a large number of Stegomyia fasciata in Hong Kong; that Major James then visited Hong Kong in connexion with his yellow fever investigations and came to the con- clusion that the species in Hong Kong was not fasciata but scutellaris, but that the work done by the Government Bacteriologist, Mr. H. Macfarlane, had proved that there were both fasciata and scutellaris in Victoria, and that there was an even larger number of the former species in Kowloon. He added that if Dr. Stanton undertook the investigation proposed the results would have to be carefully examined, as the experience gained in Hong Kong seemed to show that if results should be in any case negative they might be fallacious. He thought, therefore, that Dr. Stanton should, if possible, arrange for the local Medical Officers or other suitable persons to carry on the investigation by conducting a more thorough survey after his departure than he himself would be able to carry out in the short time at his disposal.

The Committee recommended that the Secretary of State should send a despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong, expressing appreciation of the very valuable work carried out by Mr. Macfarlane in connexion with his Stegomyia investigations in Hong Kong

8. Copies of despatches to the Dominions and Colonies as to a renewal of their contributions to the Bureau were received.

9. Copies of correspondences on the subject of the Stegomyia survey were received.

10. Dr. Shipley raised the question of obtaining a renewal of the grant for the Carnegie studentships after the expiration of the present grant in 1916. The Com- mittee thought that perhaps the Earl of Cromer might be asked to write to Mr Carnegie on the subject, or that possibly some communication might be sent to Mr. Carnegie by the Secretary of State.

Annexure 1 to No. 17.

HALF-YEARLY REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR FOR THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE MANAGING COMMITTEE, 5TH MAY, 1915.

IT is with the deepest regret that I have to record the death of Mr. Duncan H. Gotch, one of the entomological assistants of our Bureau. Mr. Gotch was in the Artists Rifles and recently received a commission in the Worcesters. On the 11th March he was shot through the head when, as the last remaining officer of his company, he was leading his men in a charge at Neuve Chapelle. It is a heavy loss to the Bureau, as he was a young man of exceptional promise and a very enthusiastic and willing worker, besides possessing a charming personality.

It seems likely that there will be some difficulty in filling the vacancy, and the identification work is still being carried on by Mr. Ealand, who has had to be taken off his normal work of indexing the literature of plant pests since Mr. Gotch left at the beginning of the war.

Identifications.-The chief effect of the war upon our work has been to reduce considerably the number of blood-sucking flies and general collections of insects sent by medical men from Tropical Africa; owing to the fact that so many doctors are on active service, and the remainder have less leisure for this kind of work. The various Government entomologists, however, have continued to send in collections for identification, and on a somewhat larger scale. During the six months ending the 31st March 72 consignments have been received from 45 different correspon- dents; these comprised over 11,000 specimens, of which 4,600 were blood-suckers.

Hitherto the Canadian entomologists have not had any occasion to avail them- selves of the facilities afforded by the Bureau for the identification of insects, any- thing that could not be named locally having been sent to Washington; but since the establishment of the National Museum at Ottawa difficulties have arisen with

Nos. 137 and 138 in Miscellaneous No. 200. † No. 3 in Appendix VIII. in [Ca. 7706], April, 1915,

‡ Nos. 8 and 11.

§ Nos. 5 and 7.

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Washington concerning the retention of types of new species, and Dr. Gordon Hewitt has written asking it we can help him in the naming of certain groups. In view of the valuable assistance that was accorded to us by the Dominion Government in connexion with the original foundation of this Bureau, it is satisfactory that we shall be able to render them a service in a direction that was not then anticipated.

Publications.—It has been found convenient to maintain the size of our Review: at 64 pages monthly, with an occasional addition of eight pages when the material accumulates unduly. The number of subscribers has increased by 37 as compared with last year, but the financial gain has been more than counterbalanced by the increase in our exchange copies; so that the cost of distribution alone exceeded the sales by £65 178. Od. The number of completed volumes distributed last year was as follows: Contributing Dominions and Colonies, 425 A and B; exchanges and free list, 378 A and B, and 32 A only; subscribers, 154 A and B, 23 A only, 37 B only. In an Appendix (No. V.) a statement is given showing the cost of printing and distribution and the amount derived from sales, giving a deficit of €425. The index to Series A for 1914 is now in the printer's hands, and that for Series B is nearing completion.

As might be anticipated, papers for publication in our Bulletin have not beeu coming in as freely as usual, and the appearance of the parts has in consequence been somewhat delayed; it is, therefore, not yet possible to give a statement as to the cost of Volume V. The Agricultural Journal of the Union of South Africa has been suspended on account of the war, and the chief of the Division of Entomology has written asking if we could undertake the publication in our Bulletin of any entomological papers prepared by his staff, a request which has been readily acceded to.

Glossina Investigations.--Dr. W. A. Lamborn arrived in Nyasaland last October and has recently sent in a preliminary report. After consultation with the local authorities he decided to begin his investigations in the sleeping sickness area in the Dowa district. His first object was to test the validity of Dr. J. O. Shircore's suggestion that in this district the flies in the dry season become segregated into four "primary centres," which might possibly be isolated and eventually eradi- cated. Unfortunately, Dr. Lamborn arrived towards the end of the dry season, but as the result of a partial survey he has come to the conclusion that this marked segregation does not really take place, nor was he able to find any isolated fly aren which would be suitable for testing various measures for extermination which have been suggested. Further work along these lines must be postponed until the next dry season. By releasing numbers of marked flies he has obtained evidence showing that in ten cases the insects have flown back five miles to the places whence they were originally taken, and in one instance the distance was as much as ten miles; in all cases the country traversed was well wooded. Sir Patrick Manson's suggested trap (a goat in a wire-netting cage smeared with bird-lime) was tested, but proved use- less. only eight flies being caught in seven days. Various substances smeared with bird-lime were tested on the backs of natives: light brown paper proved the most attractive, 112, 125, 85, and 98 flies having been caught, on the 15th to 18th December respectively, on the backs of two men.

In Uganda, Mr. W. F. Fiske has not been able to commence the experimental clearing work on the Lake shore which he has suggested, for the local Defence Com- mittee have continued to utilize his services for scouting work on the Sesse Islands. Dr. J. J. Simpson, who had to be invalided home from West Africa, was found to be suffering from undulant fever and has had to be granted two extensions of sick leave of two months each. The Medical Adviser to the Colonial Office reports that he should be well enough to return to the Gold Coast about the middle of June. Stegomyia Survey in the Far East. It will be within the recollection of the Committee that carly in 1914 various foreign Governments which possess colonies in the Far East promised to furnish us with information as to the distribution of Stegomyia fasciata in those countries; as up to the present the promised assistance has not materialized, the Secretary of State for the Colonies recently requested the Foreign Office to draw the attention of the French, Netherlands, and Japanese Governments once again to this matter.

It seems clear, however, that if any satisfactory progress is to be made in this important inquiry it will be necessary for this Bureau to make arrangements for some competent investigator to visit the principal ports in that region, in order to ascertain what species of mosquitoes occur in them. The Finance Sub-Committee is therefore submitting a proposal that Dr. A. T. Stanton, of the Federated Malay States, should be asked to carry out this work.

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ington concerning the retention of types of new species, and Dr. Gordon Hewitt ritten asking it we can help him in the naming of certain groups. In view valuable assistance that was accorded to us by the Dominion Government in xion with the original foundation of this Bureau, it is satisfactory that we be able to render them a service in a direction that was not then anticipated. 'ublications.—It has been found convenient to maintain the size of our Review pages monthly, with an occasional addition of eight pages when the material ulaces unduly. The number of subscribers has increased by 37 as compared last year, but the financial gain has been more than counterbalanced by the se in our exchange copies; so that the cost of distribution alone exceeded the by £65 17s. Od. The number of completed volumes distributed last year was as 78-Contributing Dominions and Colonies, 425 A and B; exchanges and ist, 378 A and B, and 32 A only; subscribers, 154 A and B, 23 A only, only. In an Appendix (No. V.) a statement is given showing the cost of ng and distribution and the amount derived from sales, giving a deficit of The index to Series A for 1914 is now in the printer's hands, and that for B is nearing completion.

a might be anticipated, papers for publication in our Bulletin have not been g in as freely as usual, and the appearance of the parts has in consequence omewhat delayed; it is, therefore, not yet possible to give a statement as to the f Volume V. The Agricultural Journal of the Union of South Africa has uspended on account of the war, and the chief of the Division of Entomology written asking if we could undertake the publication in our Bulletin of atomological papers prepared by his staff, a request which has been readily d to. losșina Investigations.—Dr. W. A. Lamborn arrived in Nyasaland last er and has recently sent in a preliminary report. After consultation with the uthorities he decided to begin his investigations in the sleeping sickness area Dowa district. His first object was to test the validity of Dr. J. O. Shircore's ition that in this district the flies in the dry season become segregated into *primary centres," which might possibly be isolated and eventually eradi-

Unfortunately, Dr. Lamborn arrived towards the end of the dry season, but result of a partial survey he has come to the conclusion that this marked ation does not really take place, nor was he able to find any isolated fly area would be suitable for testing various measures for extermination which have uggested. Further work along these lines must be postponed until the next ason. By releasing numbers of marked flies he has obtained evidence showing 1 ten cases the insects have flown back five miles to the places whence they were ally taken, and in one instance the distance was as much as ten miles in all he country traversed was well wooded. Sir Patrick Manson's suggested trap

t in a wire-netting cage smeared with bird-lime) was tested, but proved use- aly eight flies being caught in seven days. Various substances smeared with me were tested on the backs of natives; light brown paper proved the most tive, 112, 125, 85, and 98 flies having been caught, on the 15th to 18th ber respectively, on the backs of two men.

1 Uganda, Mr. W. F. Fiske has not been able to commence the experimental ig work on the Lake shore which he has suggested, for the local Defence Com- have continued to utilize his services for scouting work on the Sesse Islands. r. J. J. Simpson, who had to be invalided home from West Africa, was found suffering from undulant fever and has had to be granted two extensions of ave of two months each. The Medical Adviser to the Colonial Office reports e should be well enough to return to the Gold Coast about the middle of June. tegomyia Survey in the Far East. It will be within the recollection of the itter that carly in 1914 various foreign Governments which possess colonies Far East promised to furnish us with information as to the distribution of nyia fasciata in those countries; as up to the present the promised assistance t materialized, the Secretary of State for the Colonies recently requested the n Office to draw the attention of the French, Netherlands, and Japanese aments once again to this matter.

.seems clear, however, that if any satisfactory progress is to be made in this ant inquiry it will be necessary for this Bureau to make arrangements for ompetent investigator to visit the principal ports in that region, in order to in what species of mosquitoes occur in them. The Finance Sub-Committee refore submitting a proposal that Dr. A. T. Stanton, of the Federated Malay , should be asked to carry out this work.

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Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO