BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY). 89 



Various reports and statistics were received tlirough the High 

 Commissioner for the Union of South Africa relating to the 

 South African Whaling Industry for the season 1918. The total 

 number of whales captured showed a considerable reduction on 

 the number obtained in 1917. As compared with the figures 

 for South Georgia and the South vShetlands, the most striking 

 feature was the greater predominance of the Sperm Whale and 

 the Sei Whale. The Humpback formed a very inappreciable 

 proportion of the catch, as contrasted with the large numbers of 

 this animal in earlier years. The Fin Whale and the Blue 

 Wliale together amounted to more than sixty per cent, of the 

 total catch. 



A satisfactory report was received from the Colonial Office 

 with regard to sealing in South Georgia. It stated that no 

 young seals or females were taken during the 1918 season ; that 

 arrangements were being made for obtaining, in future, reports 

 and records of the number of seals caught during each month of 

 the season, and that no licences had been issued in the 1919 

 season for that part of the coast set aside as a seal reserve. 



Jjjumerous other reports bearing on these subjects were referred 

 by the Colonial Office to the Museum during the year, and a 

 considerable volume of information and advice was supplied for 

 the benefit of the authorities in the Falkland Islands and else- 

 where. 



Other Investigations. 



Eecords continued to b» kept of Whales and Dolphins 

 stranded on the British Coasts, and a leaflet was prepared for 

 the Board of Trade to aid in the recognition of those species of 

 Cetacea which come under the designation of " fishes royal," 

 the ownership of which is the subject of special legislation in 

 Scotland. 



Two conferences were held, under the chairmanship of the 

 Director, with representatives of the Plumage Trade and members 

 of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, respectively, 

 to consider the actual state of affairs in regard to Egret farming 

 in Sind and the collection of moulted Egret feathers in Vene- 

 zuela. The assistance of the Museum was given to the Board of 

 Trade on several occasions during the discussion of the Plumage 

 Bill (1920) in Parliament. 



Information was given to the Advisory Committee for Aero- 

 nautics, National Physical Laboratory, in connection with the 

 flight of birds. 



Mr. C. Tate Regan, F.R.S., prepared a report for the 

 Colonial Office on the Fisheries of the Colonies. He also attended 

 a conference at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to 

 consider the development of the Fisheries of Malta. 



By recent legislation the use of cocaine has been prohibited, 

 under stringent penalties, except by certain privileged classes 

 such as medical practitioners and pharmacists, and by others 

 receiving special permits. The Museum was consulted by the 

 Home Office with regard to the conditions under which excep- 



