CATTLE SURVEY OF THE 'AKEITSAE DISTRICT. 31 



69. The large amount realised in fees on sales demonstrates the 

 great trade that goes on. 



Fees charged. 



At one time oue anna per head was charged but this was raised first to 

 two annas and then to three annas and this was levied on every animal 

 that left the fair sold or unsold. The most recent arrangement is to 

 charge a fee of five annas on every animal sold and a registering fee to 

 six pies in addition. This is said to be a popular arrangement. 



A fee of eight annas is charged for every camel sold. 



70. No record is kept of where animals are brought from or where 

 Whence brought and tnev are taken to, but cattle are brought from all 

 whence taken. oyer { ^ Q p rov j nce mam iy by cattle-dealers. A large 



number of buffaloes come from the United Provinces. Tho cfrttle-dealers 

 buy and sell among themselves visiting many of the fairs in the Province 

 and on the road buy and sell in villages. Many of the purchasers of 

 buffaloes come from the N. W. F. Province and from over the border. 



71. As shown in Statement III, liberal sums are given in prize- 



1-rize.money for cattle, m ney f F Cattle * m Munici P^ f ds. A strong 

 judging committee made up of the local officials 



and raises (native gentlemen) and assisted by Officers of the Civil Veteri- 

 nary Department awards the prizes. The cattle-dealers, however, who 

 form the great majority of those who attend the fairs, take no interest in 

 the showing as their animals are usually very inferior. 



From a show point of view the Amritsar cattle-fairs are disappoint- 

 ing, very few animals of exceptional merit being brought. 



The bulk of the prize-money in the cow and buffalo classes is taken 

 by the ' Gu jars ' from Amritsar City. A few zamindars of the neighbour- 

 hood who possess good bullocks take most of the remaining prizes. The 

 amount given away in prizes would be considered very large by a 

 District Board, but in spite of the heavy expenses of the fairs, there is a 



