30
147. It is of course not to be expected that all abuses can be arrested at
once, and still there are stands at which gross neglect is visible. The Superin-
tendent instances the following case:—
"Kutab Jhang Darindah of Kandhla, in the Muzafarnagar district, has charge of two stallions, one of them
"Hoodman," thorough-bred English, was reported a slow coverer, so I ordered him to the depôt for testing. I
found that he weighed only 11 maunds 14 seers, whereas, his weight, when he left in October, was 13 maunds;
the horse was evidently starved in the meantime and consequently was unable to cover the mares. I then ordered
the other Imperial stallion into the depôt and found that he was 32 seers below weight. Of course there was
nothing left but to fine this man severely, but the worst is that Kutab Jhang is supposed to be a respectable
man, and only a few years ago spent Rs. 2,000 on providing new stabling for the stallions."
148. These instances of neglect, which now are rather the exception than
the rule, can only be guarded against:—
(a) By extreme vigilance on the part of the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department. Veterinary-Lieutenant Loughlin is to
be congratulated on the success which has attended his efforts in
this direction and it is a source of great regret that the Depart-
ment will so soon lose his services by his reversion to the Military
Department.
(b) By the selection of none but the most reliable men for the post of
Darindah.
(c) By the active co-operation of the district officials, constant visits to
the stands would prevent such neglect.
149. Strenuous efforts have been made to revive horse breeding in the
North-Western Provinces and in this direction this Department has received the
hearty co-operation of the Local Government, and on 10th July 1895, the
following Circular was issued by the Chief Secretary to Government, North-
Western Provinces and Oudh, to all Commissioners of Divisions and District
Officers:—
"The attention of the Government has now been drawn to the generally unsatisfactory progress of horse
breeding operations in these provinces and to the lack of encouragement on the part of District Officers to the
industry. Under the régime of the old Horse Breeding Department District Officers had no direct responsi-
bility in matters pertaining to horse breeding. The Inspector-General and the officer in local charge endeavoured
to enlist their assistance, but could not, and did not, demand such assistance as a matter of right. When the
Civil Veterinary Department was organized its professional officers were practically the same as before, but, as will
be noticed from a perusal of this Government's letter to the Director of Land Records and. Agriculture, above-
quoted, the active co-operation of District Officers became necessary. It appears to the Lieutenant-Governor
that Collectors and Deputy Commissioners have not sufficiently recognised their responsibility in this matter,
and it is therefore desirable to impress upon them the necessity of doing all in their power to encourage horse
breeding, both by the exercise of their personal influence and by giving their cordial assistance to the officers
of the Department. The Lieutenaut-Governor is aware that many Collectors have greatly interested themselves
in the matter, but it is necessary to remind others of their duty.
"The Government is advised that the most useful form in which help can be given to the Civil Veterinary
Department is that of careful inspection of stands of stallions, and the supply of information as to the possibility
of extending operations. I am therefore to request that Collectors, Assistant Collectors, Police Officers, and
Tehsildars may not fail to inspect stands of stallions during their tours, or to record in the inspection book any
remarks which they may consider necessary, as to the condition of the stallions, the condition of the stable,
the quantity and quality of the food, etc. The stands are not numerous, and the inspection should not occupy
much time. In regard to the distribution of stallions, the Government of India expects Commissioners and
District Officers to ascertain whether in the areas under their administrative control there is likely to be a
sufficient demand for the services of Imperial stallions or not, and to indicate as far as possible the class of
mares for which stallions are required. Careful attention to the registration of mares and scrutiny of the statistics
collected under the rules published with the Circular of the Director of Land Records and Agriculture, No.23-N-W. P.,/19. Oudh
dated 15th December 1894, should enable officers to form an opinion on the usefulness of employing Imperial or
other stallions within their jurisdiction."
150. In last year's Administration Report, I alluded at some length to the
Darindah system which is in force in these Provinces.
151. I make it a rule to inspect the Depôt at Babugarh during the hot wea-
ther with a view of ascertaining how the English horses return to the depôt.
The result of my inspection in August last was far from satisfactory as far as
the North-Western Provinces were concerned; the horses returning from these
provinces compared very unfavourably with those returned from the Punjab;
the number of months during which the stallions had been absent from the
depôt was practically the same in both cases; every horse that returned from
stands in the North-Western Provinces lost in weight, the average loss being
one maund; the loss in weight in those returned from the North and South
Punjab Divisions, was trifling, being respectively, 8 seers 14 chittacks, and
3 seers 7 chittacks, but many horses actually gained in weight. The loss in
weight could not in any way be attributed to any difference in work, as the