to other species of the North Pacific, which would promise a good prolification; further, also, to certain seaweeds, for submarine plantation, the species to which I allude containing a great deal of eatable gelatinous matter. 12. These measures, besides to be taken from œconomical reasons on behalf of home commerce and home trade, to be recommended also from a scientific point of view, as an act of preservation of a sea-mammal and from the common laws of humanity, that species of large and wild living mammal may be guarded against utter anihilation. Mankind never to forget that, being the master among the living creatures on earth, it has the power of re-creation. If the pelagic sealing of the fur-seal is carried on still longer, like it has been executed during the last years, the pelagic sealing as a business matter and a "living" will soon cease by the full extermination of the useful, animal. The objections brought forward by the friends of the pelagic sealing against its stoppage, that the latter will ruin a great many families of seamen and fishers can not be taken as sound arguments. It is a well known and a common thing in our age, but a weekly occurrence during the last years, that a new trade springing up ruins two other trades, and hardly in one case out of hundreds can a compensation be given or is asked for. In concluding my note, I thank you, my dear sir, as my esteemed fellow-worker in another transatlantic sphere, for the excellent work which you have executed during your weary investigations in the Bering Sea. May this noble and important work be crowned with the deserved success, that that piratic hunt may be stopped forever. The opportunity of the Col. Exhibition in Chicago might be used to call the Congress to Washington and then to give to the delegates the treat of a visit to the monstrous Exhibition. I should feel very happy if one day to come I can make your personal acquaintance and can shake hands with you, my dear sir, With my humble respects, I remain, your most obedient, REPLY OF DR. CARLOS BERG, OF BUENOS AIRES. SIR: In answer to your circular dated April 2, a. c., and directed to Dr. Hermann Burmeister, I regret to let you know that same died shortly before the transmission of your circular by D. N. Bertolette, esqr. Having been named director of the National Museum in place of the deceased, I have read with great interest your report and conclusions about the causes of the decrease and the measures necessary for the restoration and permanent preservation of the seal herd on the Pribilof Islands in Bering Sea, and according to your wish I have the pleasure to let you know that from the standpoint of a naturalist I perfectly agree with you in considering your conclusions and recommendations justified and necessitated by the facts stated by you as a result of your special investigation on the above named islands. Very truly yours, Mr. C. HART MERRIAM. CARLOS BERG. FOREIGN STATUTES. FALKLAND ISLANDS. ORDINANCE OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. [By his excellency Thomas Kerr, governor.] AN ORDINANCE to provide for the Establishment of a Close Time in the Seal Fishery of the Falkland Islands and their Dependencies, and the Seas adjacent thereto. Whereas the seal fishery of these islands, which was at one time a source of profit and advantage to the colonists, has been exhausted by indiscriminate and wasteful fishing, and it is desirable to revive and protect this industry by the establishment of a close time, during which it shall be unlawful to kill or capture seals within the limits of this colony and its dependencies: Be it therefore enacted by the governor of the Falkland Islands and their dependencies, with the advice and consent of the legislative council thereof, as follows: 1. No person shall kill or capture, or attempt to kill or capture, any seal within the limits of this colony and its dependen- Close time for seal cies, between the days hereinafter mentioned (which fishery, and penalties interval is hereinafter referred to as the close season); for breach. that is to say, between the first day of October and the first day of April following, both inclusive; and any person acting in contravention of this section shall forfeit any seals killed or captured by him and shall in addition thereto incur a penalty not exceeding one hundred pounds, and a further penalty of five pounds in respect of every seal so killed or captured. 2. Any owner or master or other person in charge of any ship or vessel who shall permit such ship or vessel to be employed in killing or capturing seals, or who shall per- and master of ship. mit any person belonging to such ship or vessel to be Liability of owner employed in killing or capturing as aforesaid, during the close season, shall forfeit any seals so killed or captured and in addition thereto shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding three hundred pounds for each offence. 3. Every offence under this ordinance may be prosecuted and every penalty under this ordinance may be recovered before the police magistrate or any two justices of the peace offences. Prosecution of in a summary manner, or by action in the supreme court of this colony, together with full costs of suit: Provided, That the penalty imposed by the police magistrate or two justices shall not exceed one hundred pounds, exclusive of costs. One-half of every penalty recovered under this ordinance shall be paid to the person who prosecuted the offence or sued for such penalty. All fines, forfeitures, and penalties recovered under this ordinance, where not otherwise hereinbefore provided, shall be to Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors, and shall be paid to the treasurer for the use of the government of this colony. For all purposes of and incidental to the trial and punishment of any person accused of any offence under this ordinance and the proceedings and matters preliminary and incidental to and consequential on his trial and punishment, and for all purposes of and incidental to the jurisdiction of any court or of any constable or officer with reference to such offence, the offence shall be deemed to have been committed either in the place in which it was actually committed or in any place in which the offender may for the time being be found. penalty. 4. Where the owner or master of a ship or vessel is adjudged to pay a penalty for an offence under this ordinance the court Liability of ship to may, in addition to any other power they may have for the purpose of compelling payment of such penalty, direct the same to be levied by distress or arrestment and sale of the said ship or vessel and her tackle. Definition of "seal " 66 5. In this ordinance the expression "seal” means the "fur seal,” the 'sea otter," the "hair seal," the "sea elephant," the "sea leopard," and the "sea dog," and includes any animal of the seal kind which may be found within the limits of this colony and its dependencies. Short title. 6. This ordinance may be cited as the seal fishery ordinance, 1881. T. KERR, Governor. Passed by the legislative council this twenty-seventh day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one. JOHN WRIGHT COLLINS, Clerk to the Council. NEW ZEALAND. [26 and 27 Vict., cap. 23. 8th June, 1863.] AN ACT of the Parliament of Great Britain to alter the Boundaries of New Zealand. Whereas by the Eightieth Section of an Act of the Fifteenth Year of Her Majesty, Chapter Seventy-two, entitled "An act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it was provided that for the Purposes of that Act the said Colony should be held to include the Territories therein mentioned; and whereas it is expedient to alter the Limits of the said Colony as declared by the said Act: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows: 1. So much of the Eightieth Section of the aforesaid Act of Parliament as declares the Limits of the Colony of New Zealand for the Purposes of the said Act is repealed. 2. The Colony of New Zealand shall for the Purposes of the said Act and for all other Purposes whatever be deemed to comprise all Terri |