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199. Taking the above facts into consideration, I sincerely trust that with
the aid of the Deputy Commissioner, who appears to be greatly interested in
the matter, and by the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North
Punjab, devoting as much time as possible to the district, we may next year
be able to show a much better result.
200. The officer who purchased for Native Cavalry at this show reports
as follows:—
Very few horses available for Native Cavalry. Owners most independent. It was
only through the assistance of the Deputy Commissioner that I was enabled to buy what I
did.
Karnal Horse
Show.
201. This show was held from 6th to 9th February 1894, and with refer-
ence to the dates on which it was held complaints were made by the Deputy
Commissioner, who reports as follows:—
The show at the fair ground does not exhibit the real resources of the district. Men
will not bring mares and young stock to stand out in the cold and wet, which has been our lot
for the past two years, in the beginning of February. The date of the fair should be altered
to the end of February or beginning of March.
202. The Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Punjab, in his for-
warding letter draws especial attention to this fact; but when it is borne in
mind that 7 fairs are held in the North-Western Provinces, 16 in the Punjab,
1 in Rajputana, 1 in Tirhoot and 2 in Baluchistan, making a total of 27, it will
be seen how impossible it is to suit the convenience of each district. All
Deputy Commissioners appear anxious to hold their shows or fairs either in
March or early in April, and these months must be reserved, if possible, for the
most northern districts, where the weather is more severe than it is farther
south.
203. Both the actual number present and the number exhibited show an
increase over last year. The former rose from 447 to 727, whilst the latter
showed an increase of 151. This is encouraging, besides which the Deputy
Commissioner in his report states:—
On the whole the Karnal Fair is one which promises well for the future. Year by year
the number of branded mares increases.
204. At this show 83 mares were branded by the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, South Punjab, many of which were by Government
stallions.
205. One remount, a gelding of 3 years of age, was purchased by the
Remount Agent.
206. The prizes were given away on 9th February by the Deputy Com-
missioner, who addressed the Native gentlemen and zemindars in Darbar.
207. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South Punjab,
concludes his report as follows:—
There are at present 6 Imperial stallions and it is proposed to send another, a No rfolk
Trotter, to Kaithal.
With Mr. Agnew as Deputy Commissioner in the district, I have every reason to be-
lieve that this show will increase to justify its establishment in 1888.
Lahore Horse
Show.
208. This show was held on 29th, 30th and 31st March 1894, and appears
to have been on a par with that held last year; for whilst the total number of
horses that attended rose from 693 to 770, the number that competed for
prizes fell from 234 to 227. Again the dealers' class was larger than that
brought by the breeders, which is not a healthy sign in a district.
209. The Deputy Commissioner in his report says:—
The show continues to advance in quality, but the complaint has to be repeated that
the best of the young stock is bought up by the dealers and the show is thus shorn of much
of its lustre.
210. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, North Punjab, also
reports that there was a considerable falling off in the number of young stock
exhibited. This is no doubt due to the fact that the Lahore dealers thorough-
ly scour this district before the show.
211. No remedy can be suggested, except that of gradually educating the
breeders to the fact that they will obtain much better prices if they will only