The sun., 1908-06-21

on the north. the Atlantic Ocean on the west.
the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean on the
east and the northern boundary Of German
Southwest Africa and the southern bank
OF the Zambezi on the south. This agree-
ment did not include the British colonies in
South Africa, every one of which to-day has
Its game laws, and some animals that were
almost exterminated are now altogether
protected against the gun.
All these British colonies have close sea-
sons. The game laws are ngidly enforced
wherever practicable and every effort is
made to preserve the existing fauna. The
results are already remarkable.
1t Ia officially reported from South Africa
that 'the Tarer and more beautiful ante
iopes arc becoming In certain districts more
numerous than at any previous time for
over generation and gamc generally Is
plentiful throughout the length and breadth
Of the land
In the Transvaal and Orange River colo
nies where the Beers had almost obliterated
all game "the increase In the number Of
some Of the antelopes. and particularly tho
springbok. 10 30 great that the close season
will probably be Shortened n
Some years ago tho big game Of Africa
had for time far moro formidable
enemy than the hunter It was the rinder-
pest. which not only decimated the herds
OF native and white farmers but also killed
hundreds Of Thousands OF the finest game
In Africa. Years must elapse before the
big game fully reoovers from tho terrible
loss inflicted by this epidemic.
Mr.. Roosevelt proposes to hunt In the
remarkable game country Of the British
East Africa Proteotorate from Mombasa
to Uganda. In spite Of the frightful slaugh-
ter In this region before the game laws
went into force It is still one Of the finest
fields Of great game in the world.
There arc stretches oi SCORES Of miles
along the Uganda Railroad whore hundreds
Of animals In large variety are constantly
In view from the car windows. Not long
ago Mr.. Sohillings sat for two hours In q
tree on the edge Of q forest, and here is what
he saw pass before his eyes on the plain In
front Of him: A large herd Of the wonderfully
graceful Pallah antoopes. some twenty
Grants gazelle bucks, uncounted, numbers
of~the water buck antelope nine stately
eland sntelopes. some 800 balloons. and
. finally numerous herd OF 1ebras.
What is being done in British East Africa
to prevent the determination Of this won-
derful wealth OF gamer
The British are maintaining in that pro-
tectorate three game reservations Of
total area of 4s.995 square miles. almost tho
exact size Of New York State. In these areas
no one can hunt without special permission.
and this is granted only under rigid restrio-
tions.
No white man Is permitted to hunt or
capture animals without a license in any
part Of the protectorate, and in all cases the
number Of animals that may. be killed
under the license is limited, as for example.
the elephant. rhinoceros. zebra and ante
lope. to two each. In the adjoining colony
Of German East Africa the protection Of big
game is>still far from satisfactory
There was never in any part Of the world
a more earnest effort to protect big game
from ruthless and e1termnative slaughter
than we now see in most parts Of Africa.
That the effort does not always attain the
highess efficiency is not surprising for the
arm Of the law is not yet long enough to
reach all offenders in those wild regions.