6
43. The Lahore dealers are shown as having purchased 450, whilst Amritsar
dealers purchased 133; these were purchased in the Punjab and Baluchistan,
but the figures are in no way complete, as no returns giving this information
were received from either of the Amritsar Fairs, but they are sufficient to show
how many horses fall into their hands: these may be said to have been all
remounts as, owing to the great demand, the dealers devoted their attention
almost entirely to horses of this class, knowing that they would ensure profit
and quick returns.
44. Other interesting facts brought to light are that the Bhojpuri dealers
purchased 850 head of stock from four of the best fairs in the Punjab, viz.,
Shahpur, Gujrat, Jellalabad and Dera Ghazi Khan, and that Trans-frontier
people removed 903 animals from the Rawalpindi Fair alone; these were
mainly young mules.
Removal of
Punjab Depôt.
45. During the year under review sanction has been accorded to the erection
of the necessary buildings at Abbottabad for the accommodation of the stallions
of the Punjab. The depôt establishment has already been moved up, and the
stallions returning for rest and conditioning in July will be taken up to that
station. Owing to favourable climate and good grass, I anticipate most
favourable results from this change.
Number of branded
mares.
46. Table X will show that whilst 24,907 were on the registers at the begin-
ning of the year, 23,235 were present at its close. The reduction, viz., 1,672, is
mainly due to the fact that the mares are not traceable, they having been
removed to other districts in search of fodder; some may return, but I fear that
it will be found that many have died.
47. Two thousand and fifty-seven were branded, against 2,679. Considering
the year through which we have just passed, I am surprised that so many were
branded, for it frequently happened that when the Superintendent visited a
stand, not a single mare was presented to him.
Number of mares
covered by
stallions.
48. Table V will show that 14,100 mares were covered, against 15,077 last
year, showing a reduction of 977 mares when compared with 1898-99, but as we
find that only 14,000 were covered in 1897-98, the number shown this year as
having been served must be looked upon as a fair average, and in fact a
high one for a famine year.
Average coverings
per stallion
employed.
49. The average number of mares covered per stallion employed was 48.09,
against 49.71 last year. To enable me to draw any comparison on this point
between this year and last year's working, it is necessary to repeat some figures
contained in Table V—
North-Western Provinces .
.
.
.
Rajputana
.
.
.
.
.
.
North Punjab .
.
.
.
.
.
South Punjab .
.
.
.
.
.
Baluchistan . . . . . . . . .
Sind
.
.
.
.
. .
Deccan
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Guzerat
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Average of mares covered per stallion
employed.
1898-99.
491.0
47.00
53.31
50.92
57.86
27.77
37.99
33.15
1899-1900.
51.80
13.00
52.76
50.32
48.66
29.81
31.92
25.43
50. It will be seen that in all our best horse-breeding Provinces, viz., the
North-Western Provinces, North Punjab and South Punjab the average has
been maintained. There is, however, a falling off noticeable in Baluchistan,
which is to be regretted, still as each stallion covered 48.66, the working cannot
be said to have been bad, considering the great scarcity which has existed
in this Agency.
51. Bombay and Rajputana show great falling off, but this was to be ex-
pected.
52. Sind shows a slight increase and would have improved materially had it
not been that Hyderabad suffered from both plague and famine. Six new
stands have been opened, and one has been abolished.