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No. 29. New Zealand, No. 182. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist May, 1914. With reference to my despatch, No. 100, of the 27th February last, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the amendments of the Customs tariff of Canada announced by the Dominion Minister of Finance when introducing the Budget for 1914-15 include one for the prohibition, after the Ist January, 1915, of the importation into the Dominion of aigrettes, egret-plumes, or so-called osprey-piumes, and the feathers, quills, heads, wings, tails, skins, or parts of skins of wild birds either raw or manufactured. 2. This provision will not, however, apply to— (a) The feathers or plumes of ostriches : (b.) The plumage of the English pheasant and the Indian peacock : (c.) The plumage of wild birds ordinarily used as articles of diet : (d.) The plumage of birds imported alive : (c.) Specimens imported under regulations of the Canadian Minister of Customs for any natural-history or other museum or for education a J purposes. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Ear) of Liverpool, X C.M.G., M V.0., &c.

No. 30. New Zealand, No. 189. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th May, 1914. With reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the measures taken to give effect to the provisions of the Pelagic Sealing Convention of 1911, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, a translation of the text of a law passed by the Russian Government establishing restrictive measures in the sea-otter and sealing industry. T have, &c, L. harcourt. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. The "Bulletin of Laws" No. 82 (Series No. 1), dated 29th March-11th April, publishes the following Law, approved by the Legislative Chambers, and Imperially confirmed 18th-31st March, 1914:— Law respecting the Establishment of Restrictive Measures in the Sea-otter and Sealing Industry. 1. In amendment of and supplementary to the laws concerned, to enact that— '(I.) llie pursuit of sea-otter beyond the limits of a coastal-waters zone of three nautical miles in width, as also every description of the sealing industry, are absolutely prohibited. The pursuit of sea-otters on land and within the limits of the zone specified and the sealing industry on land shall be allowed only with the sanction of the Government granted under specific conditions. (2.) Persons guilty of engaging in the pursuit of sea-otter beyond the limits of a coastalwaters zone of three nautical miles in width, or in any description of the sealing industry beyond these limits, and persons guilty of engaging in an unauthorized pursuit of sea-otter on land or within the limits of the zone specified, or in the sealing industry on land, will be liable to punishment as specified in Article 921 2 (in this law) of the Criminal and Correctional Penal Code. (3.) Persons or vessels engaged in the pusuit at. sea of seals, or in the oonveyanoe of the skins of seals (Callorhynus ursinus, Callorhynus alascoinus, and Callorhynus kurilensis) are forbidden to use Russian ports, harbours, or any portion of Russian territory if these skins are not furnished with special seals, brands, or other certificates from the competent Russian or foreign authorities declaring that the skins have been obtained in a lawful manner.