PROCEEDINGS'. 77 



tive, and some of them would hwe to give up shooting entirely if the vales were 

 enforced. However, he did not think tint they should attribute the framing of the 

 rules to any desire on the part of forest officials to keep the shooting for themselves. 

 It was only natural that the men in charge of the forests should like to get as much 

 shooting as possible, but at the same time he might say that his experience taught 

 him that the forest officials were " remark ibly go d fellows." Again, he did not 

 believe the rules were framed to raise a revenue, because although the fees would 

 fall heavily upon the individuals who had to pay them, the aggregate amount 

 realised would be comparatively trifling. As a matter of fact, better shooting was 

 obtained iu the jungle, but it often happened that while a sportsman was shooting 

 on the borders of a reserved forest the animal went into the forest itself: and 

 under the present rule, if such a thiug happened, the sportsmau would have to 

 abandou his pursuit, unless he had previously obtained permission to enter that 

 particular forest, and it was very unlikely that he would be iu the possession of such 

 a permit. lie certainly objected to being bound to give such minute details when 

 applying for permission to enter a reserved forest, and he would say further that if 

 permission was given at all, it should be given without the payment of any fees at 

 all. As for having a Forest Officer in one's camp to "dry nurse"' ou^, he should 

 object, because if he was a friend of the o3icer in charge of the forest, he would 

 consider he was doing his master a good turn by thwarting the efforts of the sports- 

 man. In conclusion, he thought they should appoint a Committee to g<;t information 

 as to the particular forests to which the rules applied, aud also as the reason why 

 they were framed, and then thay should consider whether the Chief Commissioner 

 of the Central Provinces had power to levy fees for permission to enter the forests. 

 He did not find any express power given to the Commissioner to make any rules 

 with reference to reserved forests. The only provision made in the Act was f r the 

 punishment of persons who acted in contravention of any rules the Local Govern- 

 ment might from time to time proscribe with reference to hunting, shooting, and 

 fishing. There was, however, another seotion — 31 — in the Aot which enabled the 

 Local Government to make rules to regulate huntii g, shooting, and fishing; but this 

 applied only to protected forests. He might also point out that it had been ruled 

 in more th in one court, that where power to regulate was given, it did not mean 

 power to prohibit. The Committee must first get accurate information, aud then 

 it might be considered if the legality of the rules could be questioned. If it could 

 be questioned, the member; would question it. If not, theu they must take all 

 possible Bteps to prevent the rules operating harshly upon the large number of 

 sportsmen, who already found the ordinary expenses of shooting quite heavy 

 enough for their pockets. 



Colonel Major suggested that application might be made to have the rules held in 

 suspension till the present season was over. 



The Chairman thought that Colonel Major might submit a resolution to th\t effect. 

 Mr. Gilbert : Then you are not in favour of drawing up a memorial at present ? 

 The Chairman : I do not think we have sufficient material to enable us to do so. 

 Mr. Gilbert : The Committee can get the material and then draw up the memorial. 

 The Chairman : I think we may empower the Committee to take such steps as 

 they deem desirable after they secure the information. 



Mr. Lee-Warner then moved the following resolution : — " That the Chief 

 Commissioner be informed that the recent regulations fur sport in the forosts of the 

 Central Fiwiuces have been considered by this Society, and that he be invited to 



