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THE SOCIETY EOK THE PRESERVATION OK 



NORTH -WESTEEN EHODESIA. 



THE PRESERVATION OF BIG GAME. 



By E. T. Cohyndon, Administrator. 



This matter is no doubt one which has mot with much public 

 sympathy, but at the same time it was one of those unfortunate 

 questions which seemed to bo no one's business in particular; _the 

 stage'has, however, now been reached when everyone with position, 

 influence or a purse should render his meed of assistance, directly 

 if possible, but at any rate through the Society which has been 

 formed for this definite purpose. , , . , , . „ 



The Game Law of N orth- Western Rhodesia has been carefully 

 framed to suit local conditions, and is the result of a study of the 

 South African, Southern and North-Eastern Rhodesian, and many 

 of the American systems. The first General Law was published in 

 January 1905, and amendments were published in the following year 

 further limiting the available number of certain varieties o( game 

 which showed signs of becoming scarce. The general provisions 

 of the Game Law are as follows :— All game is divided into four 

 Schedules. Schedule No. 1 consists of game birds and the small 

 antelopes ; Schedule No. 2 of the ordinary big game I rom roedbuck 

 to roan antelope ; Schedule No. 3 consists of large and rare game, 

 and includes elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, eland, koodoo, mountain 

 zebra white-backed duiker and ostrich; while Schedule No. 4 

 includes lion, leopard, and so on, baboons, poisonous snakes and 

 birds of prey, excepting vultures and owls. 



Game in Schedule 1 can be shot by visitors or residents tor 

 a £i annual licence, termed an Ordinary licence ; Schedule 2 

 demands a Special licence, of which the cost is £5 to residents and 

 £25 to visitors ; while the charge for an Administrator's licence, 

 under which game mentioned under Schedule 3 can be shot, is 

 150 to visitors and residents alike. No licence is necessary to 

 shoot animals mentioned in Schedule 4. 



An important provision was that the Administrator had power 

 under the proclamation to define game reserves, to proclaim such 

 close seasons as he considered necessary, and to protect from 

 shooting such animals as he considered in danger of extermination 

 over whatever area and for whatever time he considered to be 

 advisable. He also had power to transpose, when necessary, 



