THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE FAUNA 287 



Other work of importance which the Advisory Officers 

 might undertake would be the introduction of species into 

 the district which investigation showed might prove profit- 

 able. I am fully in sympathy with Mr. Douglas Dewar's 

 opinion on the feasibility and economic vahie of such a 

 departure. Also his suggestion that egret rookeries should 

 be leased under proper supervision ; that pea-fowl and 

 monal pheasant areas might be leased in a similar fashion 

 and worked on commercial lines. The introduction of bird- 

 farming on a large scale, in fact, should be quite feasible in 

 the case of those birds which have a commercially valuable 

 plumage, or table value as, e.g., the quail. 



As a further direct deterrent to the present activities of 

 the Indian poacher and in the interests of the future, an ex- 

 port duty should be maintained on horns and skins of wild 

 animals, and a smaller duty on all skins and heads of animals 

 cured in India and subsequently taken out of the country. 



Fish in the inland waters should be treated on similar 

 lines to mammals and birds. Poaching should be firmly 

 put down. The use of the dynamite charge has resulted in 

 far larger numbers of fish being killed than was possible in 

 former times, with much less trouble to the poacher. All 

 professional fishermen should be made to take out licences 

 permitting them to ply their vocation and should pay a 

 royalty on the catch. 



It is believed that the proper realization of the economic 

 value of the fauna of India and its exploitation under proper 

 regulations would result in a considerable revenue being 

 derived. 



