21
Ahmedabad.
185. Ahmedabad may be classed as fair. Horse-breeding in this district
appears to have received a severe check within the
last few years for which there is no accounting, and
matters have been made considerably worse by an outbreak of "Anthrax" last
cold weather, which either caused the death of several good mares or led to
their being sold with a view of getting them out of the infected district, and it
will, probably, take years for this tract of country to recover the shock. I made
a detailed tour, removed all old and unsuitable stallions, purchased all suitable
young stock, and have endeavoured by all means in my power to again revive
and improve the industry. This falling off is to be regretted, as the young stock
in the nursery purchased from this district compare more than favourably with
those from other parts of the Presidency. It is however satisfactory to note
that there are still a number of men in this particular tract who are keen on
horses and horse-breeding.
Sind.
186. Sind.—All that part of Sind where Government stallions are located
is good, but there is large tract of country on the
right bank of the Indus, which, in my opinion,
requires to be thoroughly opened out, as the last Moro Show clearly proved.
Owing to the extreme interest displayed in horse-breeding by the district officials
and many wealthy zamindárs in this district, I trust to be able, with their help,
to establish another show in these parts in addition to Moro. We shall by this
means be able to obtain some information of the capabilities of the district and
the class of mare at present in the hands of these men, besides establishing a
focus for the concentration of northern horses near the Presidency proper.
Touring stallions in a modified form has been tried this year in Sind with great
success, and it is proposed next season to increase the stallions, allowing a certain
number to tour all the cold weather. I would, however, point out that the
success or otherwise of a touring stallion depends entirely on the individual
officer in whose charge he may be. Sind, at present, is particularly lucky in
this respect, and the keenness evinced by all the district officials in horse-breeding
and their anxiety to further and promote the industry deserve my warmest
acknowledgments.
Baluchistan.
187. Baluchistan.—This district, which was handed over by me to the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Derájat
and Baluchistan, in February last, has, I feel sure, a
great future before it, and holds out every promise of becoming one of the finest
horse-breeding tracts in Asia.
Káthiáwár.
188. Káthiáwár.—The Remount Agent and myself visited the following
studs in Káthiáwár during the year: Bhávnagar,
Pálitána, Morvi, Vánkáner and Wadhwán. The tour
was made with a view of purchasing young stock for the Rearing Depôt and
taken as a whole was most successful. I believe it is the first time on record
that the Chiefs of Káthiáwár have sold to Government, and I cannot but think
that the mere fact of Government stepping in as a purchaser will have a
tendency to make them breed up to a given standard, use only sound and suit-
able sires and introduce improved principles in rearing their young stock.
These studs have been kept up more or less as a- pastime and with a view of
providing the Darbár with a few horses, but with no intention of supplying out-
side wants or making them remunerative. If the system just established is
carried on of visiting them yearly and buying young stock, I feel sure that, as
the Chiefs realise there is a constant demand for their produce, more and more
would be bred, as they have some twelve to fifteen hundred of the best mares
in India in their hands and this material, if properly managed, is capable of a
large yearly out-turn , Some of the stallions seen by us were exceptionally good ;
others, on the contrary, suffering from hereditary diseases, which the Chiefs have
promised to dispose off. Arrangements were made by me with the Imperial
Government to exchange a Norfolk Trotter belonging to the Vánkáner State,
which was unsuitable for his mares for a good Arab. I have also received an
indent from Wála Luxamana Wála of Jetpur to supply him with a good Arab
stallion, which will be complied with this cold weather.
B 579—6