36
In continuation of para. 34 of my last Annual Report, I give here full details of the work done
under this system, discussing the advisability or otherwise of its continuance any longer. Since 1895
Government have empowered 36 Officers to certify mares as being fit to be served by Government stallions.
Out of the above number, two have retired and one is dead. Ten Officers were on leave and circulars were
issued to the remaining 23, requesting them to forward lists of mares certified by them from 1st November
1896 to 31st March 1898. Replies have been received from 21 Officers, 16 stating that they have not issued
any certificates owing to their being in non-breeding districts, or for want of opportunity, being employed on
plague duty, &c. The remaining five Officers named below have forwarded lists of certificates issued by them.
Name of Officer.
Mr. Pogson, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Khandesh ... ...
Mr. Lambert, District Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad ...
Mr. Gibb, Collector of Ahmedabad
...
...
...
...
...
Mr. Kennedy, District Superintendent of Police, Poona
...
...
Mr. Ingle, District Superintendent of Police, Bijapur (issued Certi-
ficates in Kaira District) ... ... ... ...
Total
...
...
Number of mares certified.
2
20
5
4
6
37
Messrs. Pogson and Kennedy state that the system does not work well as the owners do not take sufficient
interest in it. Out of the above 37 certificates, 25 were issued in Ahmedabad, 6 in Kaira, 2 in Khandesh
and 4 in the Poona district. These Officers have not adhered to the rule by which certificates were only to be
issued in districts where the number of branded mares has not reached an average of 50 per stallion, As
noticed in last year's Annual Report (para. 34) Mr. Bagnell issued 291 certificates. Out of the above number
54 were inspected this season, 53 branded, and 1 rejected. This work was done during the time I was on
leave, by Veterinary-Lieutenant Walker, and I am unable to state what the mares were like, but gather
from their descriptive rolls that the majority were under 13 hands. Owners in several instances in this
district failed to produce their certificates, and it could not be properly ascertained whether all of them had
been certified or not. The above facts will at once prove that little or no headway has been made by
Civil Officers during the past 2 years and I am of opinion that the work is such that few take any interest
whatever in it. Under these circumstances, I think it would be advisable to abandon the scheme entirely,
as Sind having been removed from my jurisdiction gives me time to make complete and thorough detailed
tours annually throughout the Presidency proper, and I see no reason why my camp during the cold
weather should not be so arranged as to give every owner, that wishes, an opportunity of bringing his
mare to be branded.
179. I have stated that as the system of granting Certificates as adopted in
Northern India, is productive of no harm, I see no reason to advocate its abolition,
but in Bombay, I agree with the Superintendent that as horse-breeding, which is
under his supervision is now restricted to the Presidency proper and as he can
visit every centre regularly, no reason whatever exists for the continuation of a
system which leads to inferior mares being covered by Government stallions.
Granting Certifi-
cates to barren
mares to allow
of their being
bought by Re-
mount Officers
180. This system was introduced with the sanction of the Government of
India with a view of enabling owners of mares who were desirous of selling them
to do so to Remount Officers provided that they had been covered during two con-
secutive years and had failed to hold.
181. On this subject the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
North-Western Provinces and Oudh, states :—
Three certificates were granted for barren mares during the year. Several branded mares were offered for
sale at the various Shows and Fairs and some of them were bought by dealers.
182. I fear there must be some evasion of the orders of Government to the
effect that Remount Officers are not to purchase branded mares except when pro-
vided with the certificate abovementioned, otherwise I cannot account for the number
that I see purchased by dealers. I know the argument made use of that if regiments
do not buy them when in dealers' hands, others will; this is true, but if the dealers
knew that Native Cavalry Regiments would not purchase branded mares unless
they are furnished with a certificate of barrenness, they would restrict their pur-
chases, and indirectly the Native Cavalry would be gainers, for it is a suicidal
policy to purchase the mares upon which we must depend to give us our young
stock.
Number of mares
covered by
Government horse
stallions.
183. The following will show the number of mares covered by Government
stallions during the past 3 years:—