120 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 
ever, both of the African fauna, are good subjects for experiment in 
breeding and domestication for these uses—the zebra and the elephant. 
The zebra is the only animal of its kind that is apparently immune to 
the fatal effects of being bitten by the tsetse fly. The zebra is easily 
domesticated, but seems to lack endurance. If it can be crossed with 
the horse so as to produce a hardy hybrid also immune to tsetse fly, the 
problem of African transport would he partly solved. The domestica- 
tion of the zebra and its improvements by judicious breeding are pro- 
jects that are well worth the expenditure of money upon them. The 
African elephants have been domesticated and trained like their Asiatic 
relatives and have proved to be equally docile under careful manage- 
ment. There is little doubt that they could be made equally useful. 
Breeding for Fur.—Investigation of the possibility of breeding fur- 
bearing animals profitably is especially desirable, in view of the failing 
supply of our better furs. As another committee has reported upon this 
subject, we do not take it up. 
Breeding for Food.—¥From an economic standpoint we regard this 
as an important reason for attempting to breed wild mammals. Game 
of all kinds is becoming scarcer from year to year, and sportsmen go 
farther and farther in search of it. Even after it is found, the laws 
upon the subject of sale and export of game often prevent the hunter 
from carrying to his home or disposing of game that has been lawfully 
killed. In our zeal to protect our vanishing game mammals and birds, 
we have in some cases, carelessly passed laws which, if not modified, 
will prevent the one movement that would do more for game preserving 
than any other agency that can be contrived. We refer to game prop- 
agation carried on not by the State alone, but by private enterprise as 
well. 
EXOTIC SPECIES RECOMMENDED FOR BREEDING UNDER 
DOMESTICATION 
The breeding of exotic species of the deer family is a promising 
field for experiment. The red deer and fallow deer of Europe have been 
successfully acclimatized in many parts of the world. It has been shown 
that the small Chinese water deer and the Indian muntjac are both 
suited to European deer parks and no doubt both would thrive in Amer- 
ica. The water deer are noted for their fecundity, the female producing 
three or four young at a time. The muntjacs usually produce twins. 
The flesh of both is said to be excellent. These small deer are less than 
20 inches tall at the withers and, if domesticated in our Southern 
States, would furnish farmers a much needed form of meat which could 
be provided fresh every day or two as needed. Aside from fowls, most 
