GAME PROTECTION IN INDIA 281 



This is where the shoe pinches the heel of the military 

 man very hard, as also, of course, that of his civil brother 

 when shooting on areas outside of his own jurisdiction. To 

 remedy a state of affairs which is undoubtedly a real grievance, 

 it may be suggested that the number of individuals to be 

 shot in a particular block or area in any one year should be 

 allotted in a fixed proportion throughout each month of the 

 open or shooting season for that animal, say, two or three or 

 four per month, according to the total number notified as 

 shootable during the season, any balance remaining from 

 any one or more months being, of course, carried forward 

 and distributed throughout the remaining months of that 

 shooting season. 



This would give the hot-weather sportsmen, both military 

 and civil, who in pursuit of their favourite pastime are ready 

 to put up with many and decided discomforts, an equal 

 chance with their civil brother who is not so tied during the 

 cold weather. The suggestion is made simply with the idea 

 of giving a fair chance to all. 



But I would suggest a further step. I would allot a 

 certain proportion of the head of a particular species to be 

 shot in an area to the local District officials, the balance 

 going to the outside sportsman. The District officials could 

 be left to make their own arrangements as to when their 

 proportion of head was to be shot, but I think that in the 

 case of the outside sportsman the number to be shot should 

 be allotted throughout the shooting months, so as to give an 

 equal chance to all the block-holders. 



No reflection is intended on the District officials by any of 

 these suggestions. They are made only in the interests of 

 that particular quality all Enghshmen pride themselves in 

 possessing — Fair Play. 



