XVI 



SEPTEMBER. 



The monthly evening meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania was 

 held at the Society's room, Museum, on Tuesday. September 12th. 

 Hon. C. H. Grant presided, and there was a good attendance. 

 Apologies were received from the Hon. Sir Jas. Wilson Agnew, 

 K.C.M.G., M.D., M.E.C., and Mr. Jas. Barnard, Vice-Presidents. 



PROTECTION OF NATIVE FAUNA. 



A letter was received through the Premier (Sir Edward Braddon) 

 from the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 Adelaide, enclosing the report of the committee appointed to make 

 recommendations for the protection of native fauns, and asking 

 that Tasmania would assist in carrying out the recommendations of 

 this committee. Among other suggestions, the report urged that the 

 Schoaten Main (Freycinet Peninsula) should be set aside as a national 

 park for Tasmania, that the Victorian and Tasmanian GovernmeLts 

 should be requested to draw up a joint Act for the protection of the 

 Cape Barren goose on those islands on which it is found in Bass Straits ; 

 that existing game laws should be strictly enforced, and that in all 

 Game Acts provision should be made for the proclamation of districts, 

 comprising both Crown lands and private property, wherein pait : cular 

 species may be absolutely protected for indefinite periods. 



The Secretary (Mr. A. Morton) said that this communication and 

 report had been submitted to Mr. Bernard Shaw, who had dealt 

 with the points raised. Concerning the recommendation that Freycinet 

 Peninsula and Sehouten Island should be used as a national park he 

 (Mr. Shaw) had received opinion from Mr. John Meredith, of Cambria, 

 Glamorgan, who considered that while the Peninsula was unsuitable 

 for a national park, owing to its geological formation, etc., Sehouten 

 Island would be a suitable spot. With regard to the protection of 

 the Cape Barren goose and the mutton bird, these birds were already 

 protected by Acts of Parliament in Tasmania, and the inhabitants 

 of the islands were generally credited with obedience to the provi- 

 sions of the game laws, and the constable stationed there exercised 

 supervision over them. The suggested provision for absolute protec- 

 tion of certain species by proclamation for indefinite periods already 

 existed in Tasmania as regarded native game birds, but nob as 

 regarded animals. 



Bishop Montgomery said that there were a great many mutton 

 birds in the Straits, and not long ago he had seen a large number of 

 Cape JBarren geese there. On the whole, although- some instances of 

 ruthless slaughter occurred, the Cape Barren geese were being well 

 protected. He favoured Cape Portland as a place where the native 

 fauna of the colony could be preserved. 



Mr. Morton complained that although there were close seasons 

 certain birds ran a risk of being exterminated by their wanton 

 slaughter by so-called sportsmen. 



The Chairman considered that the birds of the island were very well 

 protected. As regarded the animals, he did not see how they could 

 be preserved in a park unless of a very large area, as some of them 

 preyed on others. However, it would be as well to keep the matter 

 before them, and if an opportunity occurred they might obtain land 

 for a national j.ark. 



protection of the fur seal. 



The Secretary, after apologising for the absence of the president 

 of the Fisheries Board (Mr, M. Seal), introduced the matter of the 



