11
supply of mules is undoubtedly inadequate to the demand in India for transport
purposes. The mule is easy to breed, can be reared much cheaper than horse
stock, and will always command a comparatively higher price. I would strongly
advocate a continuance of a class of baggage ponies.
As the scheme of holding the Káthiáwár show at different places in turn
appears to have been attended with very little success, the Judges and all con-
cerned have pronounced Rájkot to be the best centre.
I quite agree with the remark of the Political Agent with regard to the
encouragement of the private breeders. They should receive all the encourage-
ment possible by receiving prizes at shows, especially for the brood mare class
and remounts. It is to be hoped that all Darbárs will allow the free use of
their stallions amongst the Girásia class.
With regard to the keeping of young stock by Girásias until they reach the
remount age, all owners should be freely informed that young stock which are
got by approved sires out of big mares will, always, be purchased by the Re-
mount Agent when one year old; providing they reach the proper standard, so
that the expense of further keep to them is obviated. I am glad to see the
suggestion by the Political Agent that Darbárs should buy young stock has
been received with favour. With regard to the breeding of remounts, I think,
it will be very satisfactory if the breeding of Light Cavalry horses should be
successful. No hope need be entertained with regard to breeding Gun horses,
and the successful breeding of Cavalry remounts will only be attained by
careful nursing of the young stock. This can only be attained, as the Political
Agent suggests, by those Girásias who are too poor to feed their animals by
placing them in Darbár paddocks or selling to the Remount Agent.
The amount expended in prizes appears somewhat high, but as this is all
voluntarily given, I would not for a moment suggest that it should be diminished
and agree with the Secretary that it should be never less than Rs. 3,000.
It is certainly to be regretted that the Remount Agent was unable to
attend the show; no doubt he will endeavour to do so next year.
Summary.
39. There were two horse shows during the year under report, in the
Presidency proper against one last year. The total
number of exhibits at these two shows was 937 against
855 as shown in Table XV. As the Deccan show was abandoned in 1897-98, the
figures of 1896-97 are taken for comparison. It will be seen that there was an
increase of 82 exhibits. Although there was a great fall in the Deccan Show, it
was more than compensated by the number returned by the Káthiáwár Show.
The stock exhibited "was in perfect condition and speaks volumes for the recu-
perative power of the country that has suffered so severely from the effects of
famine for two successive years.
The total expenditure amounted to
Rs. 8,398-15-0, of which Rs. 4,715 were actually awarded as prizes and
Rs. 3,683-15-0 were spent for other expenses.
Government contributed
Rs. 2,005.
Stallions whose produce
won prizes.
40. Table XVI gives the number and class of stallions whose produce won
prizes at the Ahmednagar horse show. It will be seen
that the produce of 20 Government sires won 63
prizes, viz., 9 each of the first three classes and 36 of
other classes. When compared with the last year's results these figures appear
to be satisfactory. No information under this head was received for the Rájkot
Show.
41. Tables XVII to XX are not given as they are not applicable to this
Presidency.
VI.—GENERAL.
42. Table XXI shows that the total cost of the Department during the
year amounted to Rs. 47,261-3-10 against Rs. 51,419-9-5 last year, excluding
Sind, or that there was a decrease of Rs. 4,158-5-7. There has been a general
saving in all the heads except contingencies in which there is a slight rise. The
total cost of the Department has been sub-divided under the following sub-
heads :—