848 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June 1, 1900. 
THE GAME LAWS OF CEYLON. 
(By Mr. Alfred Clark.) 
Previous to the year 1872 there were no game 
laws and all persons without distinction were 
at liberty to kill deer and hufialoes in the Crown 
forests at any time, in any queuitity, whether 
for food or trade. 
In the year named 
AN ORDINANCE (NO. ()) 
was passed to prevent "the wasteful destruction of 
buffaloes and game, whereby the food-supply of 
the people is diminished. " Game was defined 
to mean "deer and elk." Government Agents 
were empowered to declare close seasons for their 
provinces, not to exceed five months in each year, 
and to prohibit killing of game in any reserved 
forest. Battues or driving of game were prohi- 
bited. No restriction was placed on the killing of 
game by persons, whether Europeans or natives, 
within the Korales, Vidaua Arachchies or Udai- 
yars' divisions in which they resided and they 
were empowered under the Village Communities 
Ordinance to make rules for the killing of game 
within tlieir divisions. Buffaloes could not be 
killed anywhere without a license. Any person 
wishiag to kill game outside his division was re- 
quired to get a license from the Government Agent, 
which was in force to the end of the year in wliieh 
it was taken out and cost ElO. A license to 
shoot buffaloes cost R5 per m«nth. Any person 
who shot game without a license or transferred 
it, or killed in the close season or in a reserve 
forest, or by battue, or driving, or was unable to 
account satisfactorily for meat in his possession in 
the close season, was liable to a fine not exceed- 
ing RfiOfor each offence. No imprisonment could 
be inflicted. An informer could be paid a moiety 
of any fine recovered. 
This Ordinance was in force nineteen years 
and was then repealed, Government apparently 
being satisfied that it had failed in its object 
ot preserving " the food-supply of the people." 
A NEW AND VERY STRINGENT ORDINANCE. 
No. 10 of 1891, was then passed— "to prevent the 
wanton d'rsiruction of elephants, buffaloes, and 
other game." . 
Under this Ordinance, a license which costs 
KlOO is required to shoot an elephant. It may 
be obtained fioiu the Colonial Secretary or any 
Government Agent, or" Assistant Government 
Agei;r, who, however, may refuse to issue it or 
may revoke it after issue. If a license is refused 
or revoked, appeal may be made to the Governor, 
but it must be sent in within seven days of date 
of letter refusing or revoking the license. The 
shooting of tuskers is expressly prohibited and 
license is given only to "shoot at or kill" 
one elephant and the holder of the license is not 
at liberty to fire at and wound an un- 
limited number of elephants till he kills 
one. Tlie officer issuing the license may 
insert any conditions he pleases, such as that 
no cow-elepliants, or any bulls under a certain 
height are to be killed, and mny restrict the dis- 
tricfc or foie.st and the time withi.! which the 
animal may be shot at. No license can be in 
force mo!e than three months. Free licenses 
may be issued to shoot any " troublesome or 
diirigcrons tnskor or elephant, or buffalo." Ele- 
phants (also buft'.ilocs, deer ami peafowl) trespass- 
ing on cultivated land may be shot without 
license,- butj.information must be given at once 
toStlie3[neare8t;.iheadman;' or police-officer. Any 
person shooting a tusker without a license is liable 
to a fine of K1,000 and confiscation of th« tuske, 
and shooting a tuskless elephant without license 
involves a tine of R250, witii perhaps six months' 
rigorous imprisonment added. 
To capture a tusker or other elephant, a license 
costing RlO is required, which will cease to be 
in force after three months. If the elephant 
caught is taicen out of tiie Island, an export duty 
of R2.50 must be paid. 
To shoot a wild buffaloe, a license which costs 
R20 and which will only be in force three 
months must be obtained fiom the Government 
Agent or Assistant Government Agent. A license 
to capture one only costs R2. Any person shooting 
or capturing a buffaloe without a license may be 
fined RlOO and given three months' imprisonment 
in addition. These rates and penalties are evi- 
dently designed to preserve these creatures in the 
interests of native agriculture. There is no close 
reason for buffaloes. 
As the Game Ordinances v/ere passed ostensibly 
to preserve "the food-supply offthe people,' it is as 
well to consider here how the Ord. No. 10 of 1891 
AFFECTS THE NATIVES. 
By it the right previously enjoyed by 
all persons of killing game within their 
headman's divisions is taken away. (ilame 
is defined to mean sam bur, spotted deer, I'ed 
deer, bai king deer and peafowl and the penalties 
for brcHches of the law are increased, imprison- 
ment being added. Though the wet months of the 
year constitute practically a "close season " for 
natives as they cannot or do not stalk game in 
the open in European fashion, the Ordinance 
adds an additional close season of the five dry 
months, which is the native shooting season, — 
by moonlight at drinking places. 
Any jungle villager wishing to shoot or trap 
game must pay R3-50 for a license from the Gov- 
ernment Agent or Assistant Government Agent, 
v.'hio.h will be in force from date of issue till 
.SOtli day of June next following. This seoms a 
small sum, but is really a heavy charge on a 
villager whose income is probably not more than 
K5 per month. If a European, drawing R500 a 
month, was charged proportionately he would have 
to pay R350 for his game license. 
Should a villager get a license, he is prohibited 
from shooting during the close season which is the 
five dry months ef the year, the only season 
in which he can or is accustomed to shoot ; 
he may not shoot at night, which is practically 
his only method of shooting; and though his license 
permits him to "capture" game, he may not 
" spread any net or snare." If he shoots without 
a license he is liable to a fine of R30 for each 
animal killed, plus three months' [imprisonment. 
If he shoots at night or spreads any net, or snare 
at any time, or transfers his license, he may be 
fined RlOO and given three months' imprisonment. 
If he shoots during the close season or cannot satis- 
factorily account for meat in his possession during 
that time, he is liable to a fine of K50, plus three 
months' imprisonment An informer may be paid 
half the fine recovered. 
In addition to this stringent Ordinance, Govern- 
ment passed another (No. 11) in the same year, 
imposing 
A PROHIBITIVE EXPORT DUTY 
on the hides and horns of sambur and spotted 
deer, making it no longer worth the while of 
traders to employ native shikkaries to shoot for 
them. These cwo Ordinances practically put an 
entire stop to the shooting of game by natives, 
as it i£> avideut that a license with such conditious 
