23 
the imiwrts from the Butch East Tiidies iire large enough to merit special consider- 
ation : in quantity they aiuoimt, roughly, from one-tenth to one-quarter of the 
import from Hong Kong. 
British Malaya imports most of its iiestf^ from Sarawak mu\ the Dutch East 
Indies and only a relatively Biuall quantity direct from British North Borneo. 
XX. LOCAL ORDINANCES. 
The existing law specifically relating to the edible birds' nest industry ie> 
contained in Ordinance XII of 1914; Notification 14'2 of 11)14 ; Gazcstte Notifica- 
tion No. 9 of 1U14 and Gazette Notification 325 of lU'iH. 
The essential points of the law may be epitomized as follows : — 
L All caves, known and unknown, arc the property of tlie Government except 
those hitherto recognized as private property. 
2. The discoverer of a new cave has the sole right to work it for five years : 
the Government gets a royalty of five per cent. 
3. Only life interests in caves are allowed : interests cannot be alienated, 
4. Contractors are appointed to work caves not private projjerty. 
5. Detailed permits are necessary to enter or take nests from any place and 
an authorized certificate signed by a Government Agent must be confirmed by a 
Government officer before any sale is complete, 
6. Debts njust not be paid iii neats and all nests nmst be exported or cousumed 
duriog the year of collection. 
7. Caves recoguixed as private property are subject to an animal royalty of 10 
per cent of the uests collected. 
8. The problem of part ownership on the east coast is simplified by the keeping 
of a Government Eegister in which the names of all persons entitled participate 
in the profits of the cdves are iucladed. The important Goniantong caves which are 
Goverinnent property are worked by a Contractor, the essential features of whose 
contract are: — 
(a) He must collect all nests and deliver them to Government. He is generally 
responsible for the proper management of the caves. 
(h) He is paid 50 per cent of the gross amount teahxed by the sale of all nests 
subject to certain minor adjustments, 
{(.■) He can work a cave for hiDJself and sublet any cave to certain privileged 
natives (because of hereditary interests, etc. ). 
XXL srMMAia'. 
From the evidence afforded by the present rather superficial emiuiry it seems 
certain that the birds' nest industry of British North Borneo could he exploited yet 
further and made to yield increased profits to the workers and revenue to the Govcru- 
nieut. Improvements to this end can couveniently be grouped in two sections: — 
A. Scientific Control and Investigation 
B. Business Arrangements. 
Although it seems apparent that some action can be kken in Section A Ut 
increase production it is almost certain that any really substantial increase of revenue 
must accrue from provisions to be made uuder Section IS, 
