192 UTILIZATION OF ANIMAL PnODUCTS. 



great abundance of game and fish in comparison with the want^ 

 of the apathetic population, and (2) the unwillingness of an im- 

 portant section of the community to submit to restrictions in the 

 matter of sport. An excellent beginning has, however, now been 

 made in the Central Provinces and Madras, close seasons have 

 been declared for certain descriptions' of game in most provinces 

 as far as the State forests are concerned, and numerous munici- 

 palities treat some kinds of dead game as contraband during the 

 breeding season. Fire-conservancy has also operated in the pre- 

 servation of game and fish by closing the conserved forests during 

 nearly half the year, and thus afibrding game a safe retreat and 

 protecting the higher reaches of rivers from molestation. Circum- 

 stances are thus ripe for extended imperial legislation, which cannot 

 be undertaken too early, and which the Supreme Government 

 have already under their earnest consideration. 



In regulating hunting the following general points, amongst 

 numerous others of a more special or local character, must be kept 

 in view : — 



(1). Separate rules must be made for animals dangerous to man 

 and cattle. If such animals cannot be exterminated, their numbers 

 must be kept down as low as possible ; hence special facilities 

 should be given for their destruction, and rules must be relaxed 

 and large discretionary powers given to the superior local officials 

 in the ease of rogue elephants and man-eating Felidce and Canidce. 

 Where dangerous animals abound, the District Magistrate or 

 Divisional Forest Officer may surely be empowered to organize 

 and conduct annual expeditions for their destruction, a reasonable 

 budget grant being allowed for necessary expenses. Forest con- 

 servancy, by afibrding increased cover and protection and a larger 

 supply of food, favour in a remarkable manner the multiplication 

 of elephants and beasts of prey. The rewards offered for killing 

 dangerous animals must be adjusted to the urgency of their destruc- 

 tion : a single tariff for an entire province and sometimes even an 

 entire district is a mistake. Solitary wild boars not unfrequently 

 become dangerous enough to require being specially marked down 

 for destruction. 



(2). All vegetable-feedmg mammalia are harmful to field crops 

 as well as to forest growth.* Pigs will break through almost any 



* Elephants are under the protection of a special Act, and the Forest Depart- 

 ment can only suggest their being caught when they have hecoine numerous 

 enough for a kheddah. 



