Round the Camp Fire. 177 



moated ; and, later, a notice was circulated, inviting 

 sportsmen to give their views on the following lines : 



1 i ) General observations on the destruction of game. 



(2) Any information you may have precise or 



approximate estimates any instances you can 

 give thereof. 



(3) The cause. 



(4) The remedy. Suggestions as to greater restric- 



tions, the issue of licenses, the actual weapons 

 that should be licensed for protection, any 

 observations on the sale of arms and ammuni- 

 tion to natives, close seasons, penalties for 

 offences, &c. 



(5) Traders in pelts, trophies, plumes, etc., their 



influence on the decrease of game. 



(6) Any other remarks bearing on the subject. 



To this a large number of replies were received and 

 tabulated, and at length the movement seemed to have 

 acquired sufficient momentum to carry it towards success, 

 when an untoward occurrence removed the guiding hand 

 of a well-known resident of Calcutta, and resulted in the 

 indefinite postponement of the plan of campaign. 



At this stage the matter still rests. When it will 

 revive is matter for conjecture. 



The subject of game preservation measures of a general 

 (and at once effective) nature throughout India is one 

 beset with many difficulties, which are not apparent until 

 the matter is looked into rather closely. It involves some 

 important issues ; so important indeed that any too 

 sudden approach might result in the shy birds we sports- 

 men are endeavouring to stalk being startled into such a 

 flight as would take them for some time beyond our reach. 

 So, until some practicable line of approach can be found, 

 or our game may have shifted into some more stalkable 



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