ON osTiacn FKATHEKS THEFT KEPKESSIOX BILL. 



to let his birds just grow up wild in the veld ? Mr. 

 Yes. If he has a large camp, it cannot be helped. Merwe 1 ' 



163. Mr. H. C. van Zyl.] What do you think M.L.A. 

 would be the best way of discovering the thieves jiy is, 190; 

 and putting a stop to the stealing of feathers ? It 

 would help a lot if the buyer was not allowed to 



buy from an unregistered owner. 



164. The Chairman spoke about having registered 

 brands for ostriches, but if the farmer sells birds, 

 do not you think there would be trouble after- 

 wards, or would it be possible to erase the 

 brand or have a " check " brand ? Yes, that should 

 be done. 



165. You say you are of opinion that a feather 

 buyer should give a duplicate receipt to the seller 

 stating the weight and description of the feathers 

 he has bought. For how long do you think that 

 certificate should hold good ? About eight months. 



1 66. Do not you think that would be .too long to 

 have to keep the certificates ? No, I do not think 

 so. 



167. Mr. de Villiers.\ Are there wild ostriches 

 on your farm ? Not in the camps, but there are 

 some on my property. 



168. Do 'the tame birds -ever escape from the 

 camp and join the Avild ones ? Yes. 



169. Do you know whether these wild birds are 

 shot for their feathers ? Yes, sometimes. 



170. In order to get the feathers ? Yes. 



171. Those who shoot them are thieves ? I can- 

 not say that, but if I shot birds on another man's 

 property I should consider myself such. 



172. I suppose people pluck the feathers of tame 

 birds also which escape from your camp ? Y^es. 



173. Do you sell feathers to travelling buyers, or 

 do you send them to town ? No, I sell to the 

 travelling buyers. 



174. Do you think the ostrich owner who sends 

 his feathers to Port Elizabeth or Cape Town to sell 

 on the market should also be registered as an 

 owner ? Yes, all owners should be registered. 



