THE WILD FAUNA OP THE EMPIRE 



37 



a considerable trade in game hides has sprung up, and within the 

 last three years over 600 have been brought down by the railway 

 and passed through the Customs at Mombasa, in transit. Mr. 

 Marsden tells me that many others, in sealed packages, have also 

 passed through. Most of these hides have come from Shirati, 

 just across the Anglo-German frontier, and as the district on out- 

 side of the boundary is known to bo one of the best, though least 

 known, of the game countries, it is not improbable that the greater 

 proportion of these hides was obtained m British territory. I 

 happened to bo at Kisumu three years ago when the first consign- 

 ment of these hides passed through, and suggested at, the time 

 that this trade could, and should, be at once checked by increasing 

 to a prohibitive rate the railway freight on all game hides, other 

 than those obtained legitimately on a licence. 



' 5. In the revised Game Regulations the minimum weight of 

 ivory allowed to bo exported has been raised from 11 lbs. to 

 30 lbs., and it is to be earnestly hoped that this suggestion will 

 meet with the Secretary of State's approval and sanction. I have 

 consulted many sportsmen and all the senior officials on the sub- 

 ject, and all are agreed that it will prove the only effective^ means 

 of preserving cow elephants and immature bulls. It will also 

 effectually stop the endless disputes that have hitherto arisen 

 regarding cow ivory. I may add that the late Sir Donald Stewart 

 was in favour of it, and would have recommended it for favourable 

 consideration. 



' Since the Gorman authorities have made no efforts to prevent 

 this export of zebra and other game hides, it is improbable that 

 they will prohibit the export of cow ivory, and there will, there- 

 fore, always remain an outlet from this Protectorate by smuggling 

 into German territory. 



' This illicit, trade, however, can be reduced to a minimum by 

 our making it compulsory for all owners of ivory, whether traders 

 or sportsmen, to register the same at one of the Government 

 up-country stations, of which there is now a complete chain across 

 the Protectorate between Kitui and Kisumu. At least eight-tenths 

 of the ivory obtained in this Protectorate, as well as all the ivory 

 from Manimani and Dodosa in the Uganda Protectorate, comes 

 from the countries north of our chain of stations, and it would, 

 therefore, be no hardship on anyone to call in and register it, and 

 receive a pass for the same from the officer in charge. The details 

 regarding the number and weight of each tusk would then be 

 notified to the Chief of Customs at Mombasa by post or telegram if 

 necessary. All ivory not so registered would be detained at 

 Mombasa, or other port of exit, until a satisfactory explanation 

 was given. 



' (i. Game returns are of great value in arriving at the approxi- 

 mate number of the various species of game killed annually, and 

 there is no reason for believing that these returns are not sub- 

 mitted correctly by the majority of licence-holders. 



' 7. I agree' with Mr. Porcival that for the present all but the 



