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the best Fairs, it will be seen how injurious to the interests of Government this
must necessarily be, as naturally Government must pay an enhanced price,
but not only does this operate injuriously as far as Government is concerned,
but also horse breeding must suffer, as the breeder is paid much less by the
dealer than he would obtain if he sold to the Remount Agent direct. I there-
fore consider that I am right in describing the dealer as an enemy both to
Government and the breeders generally.
64. A case occurred during the year in which a breeder of the Lahore
district petitioned the Punjab Government, asking that orders might be issued
that horses were to be bought direct from the zemindar breeders. The Director
of Land Records in his report on the case states that the petitioner alleges
nothing which is not lawful, but at the same time remarks:—
"The matter is a very simple one. The Remount Agent for British services in particular, buys largely
from dealers and comparatively rarely meets the breeders. One at least of the Purchasing Officers, to my know-
ledge, does his utmost to deal direct with the breeders, but there are many difficulties in the way. The dealer
brings a batch of horses, the Agent selects those fit for his purposes and pays for them, without delay or chaffer-
ing, at the maximum rate allowed by Government. It will be seen how very much time and trouble this
system saves to the Agent who is always pressed for time and what a strong temptation there is to follow it.
The dealer knows perfectly to what figure the Agent can go and he makes a profit on every animal, but much
more on some than on others by this system."
He further adds:—
"It is not easy to suggest any remedy. I believe the Remount Agents are already directed, as far as pos-
sible, to purchase from breeders. But unless more assistance is given, i.e., more officers appointed to purchase.
I fear but little will be done in that direction."
The Government of India, to whom the case was referred, decided that
they were not prepared to issue more stringent instructions than those which
already prevail regarding the purchase from breeders by Remount Agents.
65. The difficulty which of course arises is to predict the results of any such
orders; the dealers have become so powerful that no doubt, to begin with, they
would endeavour to form a ring to prevent Remount Agents purchasing young
stock, and for some time no doubt difficulties would be experienced, still we
have to face the fact that breeders cannot make horse breeding a paying con-
cern until they are brought more in contact with the purchasing officers, and
I am striving to effect this in consultation with the Director, Army Remount
Department.
66. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-Western
Provinces and Oudh, when remarking on the removal of young stock from his
Province, says:—
"During the last three years the average number of foals foaled in the North-Western Provinces, the pro-
duce of Imperial stallions was 833 per annum, and the average number purchased annually by the Remount
Agent was 69; this appears exceedingly low, taking into consideration that the brood mares of these Provinces
are equal to any, if they are not the best in India.
"If the young stock are not purchased by the Remount Agent, a large number of them fall into the bands
of the Bhojpuria dealers and are taken down to Bengal where they are kept for a year or two and sold to the
wealthy natives and merchants of Calcutta. In this way they become lost for Native Cavalry.
"To give you an idea of the trade these men do in the north-west, I may mention that at the Makanpur
Fair they purchased over 500 horses, and a large number of them were by Government sires. At Nauchandi
they purchased 186, and when on tour in the district, I met them on their way to Bengal with a string of
about 300 youngsters, some of them as good as I have seen at any Fair.
"This system of taking away wholesale the Government bred youngsters, would point to the necessity of
Native Cavalry Regiments establishing their own runs and buying for them at the same ages as the Re-
mount Agents."
67. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South Punjab,
remarks very forcibly on the injury done to horse breeding by the dealers.
On this subject, he states:—
"During my tour through my different districts, it has struck me most forcibly that the dealers are play-
ing sad havoe with the young stock, for I noticed that there were any number of youngsters to be seen under
1½ years' old, but comparatively few over that age, and on enquiry I was told that the dealers buy them all up
and take them away. This was particularly the case in Dera Ghazi Khan, where the Bhojpuri dealers come
down and travel through the district buying up all the young stock of that age as they go, and before the Re-
mount Officers have a chance of seeing them at the Show. This does incalculable harm, as it not only deprives
the Army of the best animals, but the zemindar, in his ignorance and anxiety to get money, is induced to part
with his colt or filly at an absurdly low figure; thus the breeder is not the man who reaps the benefit, and this
disheartens him, as he finds the game does not pay, and it is difficult to fully appreciate the mischief this is
doing to horse breeding. I have interviewed all the leading zemindars at the differnt places, and they nearly all
tell me the same story. I have endeavoured to point out their error, but one cannot alter their nature, and they
will always be unable to resist the sight of money, especially, as is well known, so many are in debt and this
places them more or less in the hands of unscrupulous men."
Maps.
68. Maps will be found in the cover of this report, showing the breeding
districts, the stands where stallions are located, and the number of stallions at
each stand.