Reports to the Colonial Office. 
King’s House, Jamaica, 
8th March , 1901. 
To The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., etc. 
Sir, — I lmve the honour to transmit to you a copy of a pamphlet 
by Dr. J. E. Duerden on the subject of Fisheries in the West Indies and 
to commend it to your consideration. 
2. I understand from Dr. Duerden that Dr. Morris has expressed 
himself very favourably with regard to the suggestions contained in the 
paper, and that it is possible he may recommend that experiments for 
giving effect to them should be carried our in connection with, and under 
the auspices of, the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West 
Indies. 
3. Were the financial circumstances of Jamaica different to what they 
are, I should consider it desirable that efforts should be made by the 
Colonial Government to improve and develop the fisheries of the island. 
Any such efforts are, however, for the present, at all events, “ beyond the 
range of practical politics.” 
4. I feel, however, that it would be of great benefit to the Colony if 
experiments in the directions suggested by Dr. Duerden, particularly with 
regard to the artificial breeding and culture of turtles, could be carried 
out, and I shall be very glad to learn that you have found yourself able to 
sanction any recommendation which Dr. Morris may make for the matter 
being taken in hand by the Imperial Department of Agriculture. 
I have, etc., 
(Signed) Augustus W. L. Hemming, 
Governor. 
British Museum (Nat. Hist.), 
Cromwell Road, S.W., 
3rd May, 1901. 
To H. Bertram Cox, Esq., 
Colonial Office, Downing St., S.W. 
Sir, — In accordance with Mr. Secretary Chamberlain’s request, 
conveyed in your letter of April 29th, I have considered the letter of 
Dr. Morris and Dr. Duerden’s Report on the Marine Resources of the 
West Indies, of which you were good enough to send me copies. 
The matter referred to has been for some time under my consideration, 
and I find myself in entire agreement with Dr. Morris. I think it would 
be a most valuable step in the public interest were the Marine Resources 
of the West Indian Islands taken up as a part of the research work 
entrusted to the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies. 
The paper by Dr. Duerden on “ The Marine Resources of the West 
Indies ” is a valuable one. The various sources of wealth in the seas of 
the West Indies are each carefully sketched. By the references made to 
marine investigations carried on elsewhere, Dr. Duerden shows that he is 
well informed in the subject, whilst his observations and suggestions and 
general handling of the subject show originality and full competence. 
Dr. Duerden has had a thoroughly sound training as a scientific biologist. 
His original papers, as well as the present report on the Marine Resources 
of the West Indies, prove him to be a trustworthy scientific adviser, who 
