34
180. All these points are brought to the notice of either the District
Officers or of the Local Government, and, in time, we may be able to do away
with some of the abuses.
Granting of
certificates by
District Officers
to allow un-
branded mares
being covered.
181. In paragraph 108 of last year's Administration Report, I mentioned
that as the amount of harm done is trifling, and as it was stated that the
system induced District Officers to take an interest in horse-breeding, I consi-
dered it advisable that the system should be continued for another year. It
now only remains for me to show the working of this system during 1896-97.
182. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North-Western
Provinces and Oudh, states:—
"Two certificates were given this year, one in the Saharunpur District, the other in the Bareilly District. If
all the fairs and stands are visited annually, the granting of certificates is unnecessary and objectionable."
183. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab,
reports as follows:—
"There were 119 certificated mares present in the Districts on 1st April 1896, and 63 more certificates were
granted during the year, making a total of 182, out of which 12 were brought up for inspection, (10 were
branded, and 2 rejected ), thus leaving a balance of 170 mares not inspected at the end of the season. Of these
170 mares, 57 were covered by Government stallions, and as long as they can go on getting the services of the
Government stallions for nothing, they are not likely to be brought ùp for my inspection; besides, lending an
inducement to other owners who otherwise would have their mares branded, but who, knowing they would not
be so closely examined by the officer granting these certificates, will now take them to him for a certificate and
so escape the brand. In Dehra Ismail Khan District alone, 72 mares are present having these certificates
This District was thoroughly toured by me this year, and not one of them was brought up for branding or
inspection; and though many mares were brought in by the efforts of the Tahsildars, they almost without ex-
ception, refused the brand; 11 only being branded in the whole district. This is a most unsatisfactory
condition of affairs. True, most of the certificated mares are in the frontier districts, where owners cannot
always bring their mares in for branding, and to encourage horse-breeding something of the kind may be indi-
cated, but it should be only granted on the distinct understanding that the mare will be brought in for the
Superintendent's inspection and branding on the first available opportunity. The attached table gives details of
certificated mares in each district, number of certificates issued, and the number of mares covered, etc."
184. If we except the Frontier districts of Peshawar, Kohat, Dehra Ismail
Khan, and Bannu, there were only 27 certificated mares on the register at the
end of the year, of which 5 were inspected and branded. Jhelum was the
worst district, as of 13 certificated mares, only 1 was brought up for in-
spection.
185. Although only Frontier districts are concerned, and although I fully
agree that it may be worth our while to postpone branding in order to popu-
larize horse-breeding in these districts, still, the orders of the Government of
India should be carried out; they are quite explicit, and are to the effect that
the certificate is granted on the distinct understanding that the owner pro-
mises to bring the mare for inspection on the first visit of an officer of the
Civil Veterinary Department.
186. The fact that mares are to be brought forward for inspection does
not necessarily imply that they need be branded; for, in the frontier districts,
where horse-breeding is in its infancy, time must be allowed to permit of
owners of mares fully recognising the advantages to be derived from the use of
Government stallions. The point to be gained by the inspection of certificated
mares is that certificates would be cancelled in such cases where the mare was.
either unsound or, in the opinion of the Superintendent, unfit for horse-
breeding.
The attention of the Punjab Government will be directed to this fact.
187. Referring to this subject, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, South Punjab, states as follows:—
"There were 135 certificated mares present at the commencement of the year, and nineteen (19) new certi-
ficates were issued during the year under report. Out of these 19, 15 were given in the Dera Ghazi Khan
district alone; nineteen (19) certificated mares were branded during the year; 25 certificated mares were
served by Government stallions. There is no trace of 73 certificated mares; some of them died, and some
of them were sold or transferred to other districts.
"In the Rohtak District, out of ninety-six (96) mares which had been certificated, only 19 were brought
to me for branding when I was touring through the district. I do not consider the practice of the granting
of temporary certificates by Deputy Commissioners as one likely to be of use in the improvement of horse-
breeding, as it gives owners an opportunity of avoiding the brand altogether."
"There were 56 certificated mares present at the close of the year."
188. On the question of certificated mares, the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, Bombay, reports as follows:—
"Mr. Bagnell, I.C.S., of Kaira, is the only officer in this Presidency who has exercised his powers in
granting certificates to mares. Prior to my tour in Guzerat, he had certificated 12 mares, 5 of which I saw and
branded, and rejected one. Since December, he has issued certificates to 291 mares. Out of this number