266 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



collected together Noah's-ark-fashion on a large scale for 

 the first permit-holder who enters to shoot down with ease. 



Whilst, however, this system of opening and closing areas 

 to shooting is best adapted to some localities and to certain 

 classes of game, it is quite inadequate for the satisfactory 

 protection of others. In many parts of India I would favour 

 the second suggestion as being by far the most satisfactory 

 in the long run and in some cases essential. 



II. The area is closed until the head of game has become 

 satisfactory, and the shooting on the area is then definitely 

 regulated, no further periods of closure being enforced save in 

 exceptional circumstances. 



The length of time a Sanctuary should be in existence is of 

 very considerable importance, and to a certain extent is 

 intimately dependent upon a knowledge of the habits of 

 the animals for which the Sanctuary is formed. The period 

 of closure to be effective must depend : 



(1) On the condition of the head of game of the area 

 when the Sanctuary is first formed. 



(2) On the nature of the animal, e.g., the rhinoceros, with a 

 period of gestation of two years and a period of fifteen 

 years before it reaches maturity, would require practically 

 permanent closure of its haunts to produce any appreciable 

 result, as has, in effect, been carried out in Goalpara in 

 Assam. 



The procedure followed should usually be determined by 

 the condition of the head of game on an area. There would 

 be no question of fixing a definite period for the Sanctuary 

 in the first instance. When the requisite effect on the 

 game had resulted from its formation, careful and efficient 

 rules and management should be sufficient to keep up the 

 head of game, and it would not be necessary to continue 

 the rigid exclusion of sportsmen. It would be sufficient to 

 limit the number of each species to be shot each year, as is 

 done in many parts of the Central Provinces. When the 

 limit had been reached the shooting of the species in that 

 locality would cease for the year. 



Once a sufficient head of game has been established in a 

 locality, it is questionable whether regulated shooting each 

 year would not have a better effect than the alternative 

 proposal of closure for a term followed by a period of 

 unrestricted shooting. It would certainly minimize the 

 chance of the animals becoming too tame. 



