With Fhishlio-ht and Rifle -^ 



Statements of this kind, made quite without knowledge, 

 get too much credence at home. 



With certain exceptions, therefore, there is no pretext 

 for the kilHng of African big game on the ground of their 

 harmfulness. On the other hand, there is urgent need 

 for the putting out of every effort to prevent the ravages 

 of insects and reptiles, which play havoc with many 

 forms of colonial enterprise. Coffee-plantations suffer, for 

 instance, in an extreme degree. 



But it would be a great mistake if the fauna of the 

 country were to be generally wiped out, as sometimes it 

 has been locally, in the hope of thereby getting rid of 

 ticks, which are known to communicate disease. Accord- 

 ing to my information, the infectious diseases in question 

 are to be met with in districts where wild animals have 

 long been absolutely exterminated. 



For a long time past rewards have been given for the 

 killing of lions and leopards, though it may be questioned 

 whether this practice can justified by results. Assuredly, 

 without rewards, no one would lose a chance of killing 

 either lions or leopards whenever this might be practic- 

 able ; while the rewards are not large enough in themselves 

 to tempt any one to go in for this kind of shooting. 

 Of late years the rewards have been lowered in value. 

 Nor would they induce any one to set about the killing 

 of crocodiles or poisonous snakes. Personally, I doubt 

 very much whether the destruction of the crocodiles 

 would have the result of increasing the supply of fish in 

 African lakes and rivers. I cannot imagine a greater 

 wealth of fish than I have seen out there. I remember 



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