Mr. Ward:

What the parliamentary assistant has said is correct. The beluga is not a whale, and does not come under the international whaling agreement. The differentiation is that the whale has two blow holes in his head whereas the porpoise or the beluga as

Canada Lands Surveys Act

we have called them in. Hudson bay has only one. And while I am on my feet I might add that the beluga we catch in Hudson bay weighs only from about 1,200 to 2,000 pounds. One readily sees the difference between that and the large ocean whale that weighs anywhere from 20 to 80 or 90 tons.

Mr. Knowles:

Are not the same products obtained from both these species? Perhaps I should first ask whether the beluga is an animal, because I understand the whale is a mammal, not a fish. To which family does the beluga belong?

Mr. Ward:

As I said a moment ago, it belongs to the porpoise family. The oil from the beluga is of a much finer quality than is obtained from the larger species, and is used exclusively in the manufacture of domestic shortening, margarine and kindred products. There is a further difference in that we utilize every ounce of the anatomy. It is not dried, but is ground and sold to the fur industry. We also salvage a considerable quantity of a very fine quality of edible sirloin steak made from the animals we process. Then we get small quantities of a very fine lubricating oil known as jaw oil. I believe it is not obtained from any species other than the porpoise family. This oil is used in the oiling of precision machinery such as addressograph machines, cheque-writing machines, wrist watches and other fine precision machinery. We produce a small quantity of that quality of oil.

Mr. Knowles:

I note that the hon. member for Dauphin has indicated many more uses for the oil from belugas than were indicated by the parliamentary assistant for the oil from whales. I noticed in particular that the parliamentary assistant omitted any reference to the use of whale oil in the manufacture of margarine. Is it used for that purpose?

Mr. MacNaughl:

I understand that it is, but only in trifling quantities.

Mr. Herridge:

I was interested in the information given to the committee regarding these one-blow-hole belugas. Do they abound in such quantities that there is no necessity for their being protected by fishing regulations?

Mr. MacNaughl:

The scientific studies of the commission have not yet reached that stage.

Mr. Knowles:

I understand we are not now approving of the convention which appears as a schedule to the bill. That has already been done.

Mr. MacNaughl:

The convention has already been approved by a joint address of both houses. It was done in 1948.

Mr. Depuly Speaker:

When shall the bill be read a third time?

Now.

Mr. Knowles:

By leave.

Mr. Fournier, Hull (for Mr. Mayhew) moved

the third reading of the bill.

Hon. George Prudham (Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys) moved

the second reading of Bill No. 14, respecting the surveys of public lands of Canada.

Mr. Herridge:

In paragraph (e) of subsection 1 of section 2 the term "dominion land surveyor" is used, and it says that it means a person who holds a commission. Is a person holding a dominion land surveyor's certificate entitled to perform services for private interests in the provinces? What are his functions?