THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIBE 



89 



but, as the honourable Member will see on reference to page 354 

 of Cd. 3189, the former Eeserve is still approximately 560 square 

 miles * in extent and too largo and difficult to bo systematically 

 controlled without a special staff, while the area of the latter is 

 now about 970 square miles,t the original boundaries having ex- 

 tended beyond all practical requirements. 



The area of the Elephant Marsh reserved in British Central 

 Africa has been reduced since its establishment in 1897, but, so 

 far as I am aware, no reduction has been made during the present 

 year. The reductions referred to above have been sanctioned by 

 the Secretary of State. 



With regard to the fourth part of the question, Section 7 of the* 

 Game Ordinance of the East Africa Protectorate, No. 9 of 1906, 

 empowers the Commissioner to make rules legalising the export in 

 transit through the Protectorate of any ivory lawfully acquired in 

 Uganda, even though of less weight than the minimum allowed 

 by the Ordinance. + The reasons for this exception are given at 

 page 351 of Cd. 3189. 



With regard to the fifth part of the question, I would refer the 

 honourable Member to Lord Elgin's despatch which is printed at 

 page 380 of Cd. 3189, and from which he will see that the Com- 

 missioner of the East Africa Protectorate has been requested to 

 consider whether some arrangement cannot be made for stopping 

 the trade in question. [19th December, 1906.] 



* 500 square miles is less than 24 miles square — surely not ' too large and 

 difficult ' ; in fact, as we should say, quite inadequate for a reserve of the larger 

 game animals. — Editor. 



f This is just 32 miles square. — Editor. 



I An examination of the Blue Book will show that the Colonial Offloe con- 

 curred with the Society, who recommended that the minimum size of tusks 

 allowed in British Protectorates should be raised to 30 lbs. Subsequently, it 

 appears that as regards Uganda this ordinance was withdrawn. The natives 

 of Uganda have therefore the special privilege of selling undersized ivory, and 

 a special ordinance has been passed legalising the transit of undersized Uganda 

 ivory through British East Africa where the normal limit of 30 lbs. is enforced. 

 — Editor. 



LONDON! EDWARD STANFORD, IS, 18, & 14, LONG ACRE, w.c. 



