1906 ON HORSE BREEDING IN ONTARIO. 25 



Report Inspector* District 1 Concluded. 



or companies would not purchase unless the animal or animals had passed 



inspection. 



LICENSING FEES. 



In considering what fee should be charged in connection with licensing, 

 it would be well to have as low a rate as possible, so that the horsemen might 

 not consider it a hardship. In discussing this point at our meetings the con- 

 census of opinion was that the fee should be large enough to make the Act 

 workable. Some are of the opinion that five dollars should be the outside 

 charge. We also think that this amount would be quite within the bounds 

 of reason, and would be satisfactory to all concerned. This fee, of course, 

 would cover the cost of issuing the license and inspection permit. 



PUBLIC MEETINGS. 



Public meetings were held at Chatham, Aylmer, St. Thomas, Forest, 

 London, Essex and Petrolea. In each place the meetings were small in num- 

 bers, but made up for that in enthusiasm. Each meeting entered heartily 

 into tne discussion of the several points in question, namely, the licensing 

 and inspection of stallions, together with a recommendation for registration. 

 In every case we endeavored to encourage discussio-n on the part of those 

 attending the meeting, our part being to receive the views placed before us. 

 In each meeting we asked for a vote coupling together the license and inspec- 

 tion, taking up the registration separately. Each meeting gave an unani- 

 mous vote in favor of each of these votes. From the apparent feeling of 

 those we came in contact with in the district visited by us, we are firmly of 

 tne opinion that public opinion is ready for regulations of this nature. 



As TO CONDITIONS FOUND IN EACH COUNTY. 



Middlesex and East Lambton have probably the greatest number of good 

 stallions in each and every class; they have also the best class of brood 

 mares. 



East and West Elgin come next, having a few as good as any we have 

 seen in the above mentioned counties. 



vv est jbanioton being a comparatively new district, is somewhat behind, 

 but breeders seem to evince a desire to improve their conditions. 



East and West Kent seem to pay more attention to the producing of 

 speed, irrespective of conformation and quality, yet in these ridings we met 

 a few extra good types of the standard-bred trotting horse. 



North Essex is away behind in all classes. We only saw one fairly good 

 stallion in that riding. 



South Essex has a mixed breed of a very poor quality. 



As to the conditions predominating in each county, we find that they 

 have all equal facilities for breeding any class of horse required for the 

 market, of this or any country. 



In our opinion the horse industry is one of the greajtest, if not the great- 

 est, branch of live stock, and we, together with all interested in the industry, 

 are glad that the present important step has been taken, and trust, and in 

 fact know, that you will receive the strong support of every right thinking 

 man. 



In conclusion, we think it would be well for the Department to place 

 before the breeders of the Province the real requirement's of our existing 

 markets, what they are at present, and also the great expectations in connec- 

 tion with the development of our country. 



(Signed) WM. SMITH, 



J. D. GRAHAM. 



