352 
Section. I believe the papers we have heard this morning are 
among the most interesting in the whole Congress. 
The Cuarirman: Is there any other gentleman who would 
like to ask Mr. Barrett any further questions ? 
M. Brenier: With reference to the silk, you told us that 
you obtained about nine broods per annum. May I ask if that 
is a regular production, because in Indo-China, although we 
get that, we do not consider it at all a normal production. 
We consider an average of six broods per annum a very large 
one. Nine broods is very exceptional. ‘ 
Mr. Barretr: So far as I know, it has gone on for a period 
of about four years now. 
M. Brenter: And these silkworms are from Bengal, if 1 
remember rightly? 
Mr. Barrett: From Ceylon. 
M. Brenier: But they came from India really, I suppose, 
because I do not think that there is a regular silk culture in 
Ceylon; it has been introduced lately from British India—from 
Bengal, as far as I remember. 
Mr. Barrett: The silkworms came five or six years ago 
from Ceylon, and have been bred up until they get, if I am 
not mistaken, nine broods a year. The Philippinos are very 
pleased, and a great many companies are planting mulberries 
as rapidly as possible. The product brings a better price in 
the market than Chinese silk; it has exceeded all their most 
sanguine expectations. 
M. BrenterR: You have no customs dues on silk? 
Mr. Barrett: I think there is a heavy duty. 
M. Brenier: That may explain why it is preferred to 
Chinese silk. 
The CHatrMAn: Well, gentlemen, this is a most interesting 
paper, and I should be very sorry to cut short any discussion 
of it, but time is passing, and there are other papers to be 
read. Before proceeding to those we will, I think, give Mr. 
Barrett our hearty thanks for a most interesting paper. 
ELEPHANT DOMESTICATION IN THE BELGIAN CONGO. 
By Captain Laptume,! 
Director of the Elephant Training Station, Api (Uele). 
[ ABSTRACT. ] 
The Congo Government decided in 1899 to capture and to 
try to domesticate African elephants. 
A training station was erected at Api in Uele (Northern 
' Communicated by M. E. Leplae. 
