MANGROVE FORESTS 185 



opinion. Up the estuary from Parapat to Quiloa, 

 one of the estuaries of the many small rivers that 

 converge in that region, the banks are lined with 

 dead mangroves, standing uncut, and among these 

 an abundance of healthy young mangrove-trees is 

 growing up, providing conclusive evidence that 

 leaving the old dead trees has not interfered with 

 new growth. I am rather inclined to think indeed 

 that the dying and dead trees contribute to the 

 welfare of the young plants by preventing with 

 their roots the scour of the mud till those of their 

 offspring have taken possession. Cutting and 

 removing the dead trees is a considerable expense, 

 particularly if, as sometimes occurs, the spot 

 chosen by the administrator to which they are to 

 be taken is a considerable distance away. In 

 some cases the regulation is ignored, it being 

 impossible to comply with it, and the means at 

 the disposal of the administration not being 

 sufficient to see that it was properly enforced. 

 Thus it presses unfairly on those who carry it 

 out, or endeavour to do so. 



One argument only can be advanced in support 

 of the practice of cutting down the trees, viz., that 

 the bark of the upper branches which might other- 

 wise be left can all be stripped off, but this is 

 hardly a matter for a Government ; for, though a 

 Government may lose something in duty, it is the 



