With Flashlight and Ritic ^ 



exportation of elephant-tusks weighing less than ten 

 pounds apiece. I was discussing this one day in Africa 

 with a resident in the Congo State. " Oi/ y nicttra du 

 ploiub^' he remarked! The inserti(jn of "a little lead" 

 into the ivory would bring it up lo the specified 

 weight ! 



If the exportation of the tusks of female elephants 

 could be prevented — they are easily recognised by the 

 small cavities — there would be some hope of preserving 

 the species effectively. It is not possible, however, 

 for the hunter to JLidge the weight of the tusks of the 

 elephants he comes across in the thickets. If he really 

 wishes to spare rill that have not marketable tusks, he 

 must select only the very largest individuals. This is 

 too much to demand ot those who make their living out 

 of it under very trying conditions, when they know that 

 wily Greek and Indian merchants will find a way ot 

 disposing of their illicit wares satisfactorily.^ 



With the spread of colonisation, and the setting apart 

 of districts within which there should either be no shooting 

 of wild animals or only of certain specified types, the 

 question as to what animals are to be regarded as harmful 

 has come more and more to the front. 



Elephants and hippopotamuses must be acknowledged 

 to come under the categorv ot harmful animals. \ et the 



'& 



^ There is no export dutv, unfortunately, in tlie (icrnian Cameroons, 

 whence 452,100 kilos of tusks, chiefly from voung elephants, have been 

 exported during the past ten years. There are 10 to 15 per cent, duties 

 in other African colonies. There is no import duty on ivory in Great 

 Britain or in Germany. 



712 



