(2)
these statistics to be reliable, and the Survey Commissioner and Director of
Land Records and Agriculture should be requested to expedite the submission
of the proposals called for in paragraph 5 of Government Resolution No. 4343,
dated 17th May 1894, for placing the registration of mares and their produce
on a more satisfactory footing.
3. The number of donkey stallions on the roll at the commencement of the
year was 26. During the present year one donkey stallion died, two were destroy-
ed and one was sold as it was impotent, while four were imported from other coun-
tries. The number of pony mares covered by donkey stallions increased from
763 in 1894-95 to 872 in 1895-96, and the average number of mares covered
per stallion rose from 33.43 to 37.86. The decrease in the number of foals from
110 in the previous year to 101 in the year under report is not however satisfactory.
As the result of 687 coverings in Sind and Cutch in 1894-95, only 89 foals were
reported, the number of cases "not held" being as many as 445, and those "not
known" 153. It is however stated that these results cannot be accepted as
accurate and that steps are being taken to secure more correct information. Gov-
ernment cannot but accept Veterinary Captain Morgan's conclusion that at-
tempts to establish mule-breeding in the Deccan and Gujarát are not likely to
meet with success, but the experiment may be tried for another year.
4. The numbers of mares for horse, pony and mule-breeding on the regis-
ter on 31st March 1895 were 4,731, 5,574 and 1,321 respectively. It is satis-
factory to note that during the year under report the Superintendent branded
1,465 mares (915 for horse and pony-breeding and 550 for mule-breeding) against
433 in the previous year, as many as 84 per cent. of them having been branded
in Lower Sind. 253 mares were removed from the register during the year
owing to death or other causes, and the number on the roll on 3lst March 1896
stood at 12,838 (10,967 for horse and pony-breeding and 1,871 for mule-breeding).
The system under which selected Government officers certify mares as fit for
service by Government stallions was in force during the last four months of the
year, and the Superintendent should have noticed the results of that system in
the present report as directed in paragraph 3 of Government Resolution
No. 3316, dated 23rd April 1896.
5. The number of country-bred remounts purchased for Government fell
from 685 in 1894-95 to 521 in the year under report. This decrease is due to
a smaller number having been purchased for the Bombay Native Cavalry and the
Police in Sind. Of the animals purchased 144 were reported to be the produce
of Government stallions against 117 in the previous year. It is observed that
during the year under report purchases for the Ahmednagar Remount Rearing
Depôt were made for the first time in Sind with successful results. The high
average price obtained for the produce of Government stallions reared in Gov-
ernment paddocks but rejected for the cavalry affords the best proof that great
improvement in the breed is being effected.
6. The number of colts castrated by Veterinary assistants and salutris
together in 1895-96 was 151 as compared with 171 in 1894-95. During the
year under report 32 colts were castrated by Veterinary assistants against 19
in the previous year. The number is still much smaller than it should be, and
the Collectors concerned should be requested to draw the attention of the Dis-
pensary Committees to this matter.
7. The total expenditure of the Department during the year under review
(Rs. 69,074-15-10) shows an increase of Rs. 2,218-1-11 over that of the previous
year, but this increase is due to the debit to the Civil Veterinary Department of the
salary of Veterinary Lieut. Larnder for the period he acted as Superintendent
during the absence of Veterinary Captain Morgan on privilege leave. Of the
total cost Rs. 40,799 were charged to Provincial Revenues, Rs. 16,748 to Im-
perial and Rs. 11,527 to Local Funds, as compared with Rs. 41,352, Rs. 13,932
and Rs. 11,573, respectively, in 1894-95. The average cost of maintenance of
each horse and pony stallion rose from Rs. 361-15-7 to Rs. 368-12-6, and that of
each donkey stallion from Rs. 286-9-10 to Rs. 292-5-3. On this point the
Superintendent's attention should be drawn to the remarks made by the
Survey Commissioner and Director of Land Records and Agriculture in para-
graph 13 of his memorandum No. A—2449, dated 12th August 1896, and an
explanation should be obtained of the fact noticed in paragraph 26 of the report
that the average cost of feeding a pony in Sholápur and Hyderabad was greater
than that of feeding a horse.