GAME PROTECTION IN INDIA 279 



the Act should specifically lay down that permits may not 

 be given for parties of more than, say, four to six men from a 

 cantonment to go out together to shoot in any area. At 

 present it is well known that at times parties of from fifteen 

 to twent}^ or more men go out into a block of forest and 

 drive the game systematically into a cul-de-sac and then 

 slaughter the animals in numbers. The Gurkha is par- 

 ticularly addicted to this form of ' sport ' during the rainy 

 season, when in the parts of the country where they are 

 cantoned it is generally impossible for the European to go 

 near the Terai forest owing to its great unhealthiness. 

 Parties of mihtary men should be small and the number of 

 head they may shoot should be distinctly laid down on the 

 permit, and penalties be enforced if this number is exceeded. 



" I think the Game Act might embody some such definite 

 ruHng for the whole country." 



In past years but scant attention has been paid to the 

 severe attacks of a disease having kindred affinities to 

 anthrax which appears at intervals and takes a heavy toll of 

 the head of game (such as bison (gaur), buffalo, sambhar, 

 etc.) on the area it affects. 



Further, in years of severe drought the mortality amongst 

 the wild animals of the country affected is often very heavy, 

 and in the past this factor has received no consideration 

 from the authorities in the interests of the wild game. 



It may be suggested that in the wake of such calamities a 

 very careful and detailed inspection of the area or areas 

 affected should be undertaken, with the object of ascertain- 

 ing which species have suffered and to what extent. Until 

 such survey has been carried out, no shooting-permits should 

 be issued for the area or areas. After the survey the species 

 which have suffered severely should be notified, as also the 

 area affected, and this area should be entirely closed to the 

 shooting of those particular species for such period as will 

 ensure their multiphcation to the number of head it is 

 required to maintain on the area. In closing such area the 

 notification should distinctly state the reason for the closure. 

 No true sportsman would be found to cavil at such a 

 procedure. 



And now to turn for a moment, in conclusion, to the 

 question of the sportsman — the outside sportsman, not the 



