41
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of the experiment being undertaken "in the vicinity of centres of population and trade routes," it was in an area much of which, according to the Assistant Resident, was so inaccessible that no sportsmen hitherto have had the time or the desire to enter it. European sportsmen were permitted to shoot freely, but naturally, apart from the pursuit of elephants, they would have no object in remaining in the area when the game became scarce, wild, or inaccessible, and a handful of hunters (the numbers are not given, but cannot have been large), however keen, would be able to cover but a small part of the large area proclained. The natives were free to hunt and kill game by their own methods, but were not permitted the use of firearms unless they held licences, and they were forbidden to use pits or poison. They, however, have learnt the superiority of the European's weapons and are unwilling to return to their primitive methods of hunting game; consequently their contribution to the experiment was small.
4. It appears, then, that it was hoped by removal of the restrictions on shooting to clear an area almost as large as Devonshire of game-an area, moreover, with large tracts quite devoid of human inhabitants and this in war time when few sportsmen were available and efficient surveillance could not be exercised.
5. I doubt whether any member of the Interdepartmental Committee would have expected an experiment so conducted to lead to conclusions of value, or indeed any definite conclusions at all. It is clear that the experiment has effected no useful reduction of the game nor has it afforded any information on the relations between game and tsetse. I would recommend that it be stopped.
CC
6. I was not one of those who ever hoped for an unequivocal result from such experimental killing of wild animals unless it could be strictly controlled-and this necessarily entails expense and could be watched by trained entomologists. To a proper and sufficient equipment of my mind a much more promising vista was entomological research into the bionomics of the incriminated tsetse flies [which has] been insufficiently pursued up to the present time" (paragraph 128). I hope it may be possible to push this side of the inquiry, as advised in paragraph 130, by the devotion to it of a considerable portion of such funds as may be available in British possessions" in Africa.
I have, &c., ARTHUR G. BAGSHAWE,
2.
71
After consulting the Directors of the Tropical Diseases Bureau and the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, I have, in agreement with their views, authorized the Governor to close the area again to free shooting.
65178
SIR,
(No. 421.)
No. 50.
NYASALAND.
I have, &c.,
(For the Secretary of State),
L. S. AMERY.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.
Downing Street, 16th December, 1919.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 303, of the 18th of August,* forwarding a report on the result of the abolition of game licences for shooting within a certain area of Nyasaland, and to transmit to you. for your information, the accompanying copies of letterst from the Directors of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology and of the Tropical Diseases Bureau, whose obser- vations were invited on the matter.
2. I concur in their views that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the experiment, and I accordingly informed you in my telegram of the 29th November‡ that I approved of the area being now closed to free shooting.
65444
I have, &c.,
(For the Secretary of State),
L. S. AMERY.
65444
No. 48.
NYASALAND.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 1.50 p.m., 29th November, 1919.) TELEGRAM.
Director.
I approve of 29TH NOVEMBER. Your despatch of 18th August, No. 303.* closing area to free shooting. Despatch follows.-THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.
No. 51.
NYASALAND.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE AND BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA
SIR,
COMPANY.
Downing Street, 18th December, 1919. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 4th of January, 1915,§ I am directed to transmit to you, for the information of [Earl Curzon of Kedleston,] [the British South Africa Company,] the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor of Nyasaland. forwarding a report on the result of the experimental removal of restrictions on the shooting of game in a specified area in
the Protectorate.
2. After consulting the Director of the Tropical Diseases Bureau and the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, the Secretary of State has, in agreement with their views, authorized the Governor to close again the free shooting area. I am, &c.,
65444
No. 49.
UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. (No. 642.)
MY LORD,
Downing Street, 11th December, 1919. WITH reference to Mr. (now Viscount) Harcourt's despatch No. 13 of the 7th of January, 1915,† I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch* from the Governor of Nyasaland forwarding a report on the result of the experimental removal of restrictions on the shooting of game in a specified area in the Protectorate.
No. 8 in Miscellaneous No. 815.
* No. 44.
44036
No. 52.
H. J. READ.
TROPICAL DISEASES BUREAU to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 4th September, 1920.)
Tropical Diseases Bureau,
23, Endsleigh Gardens, London, N.W.1, 1st September, 1920.
[Printed as No. 87 in African No. 1075.]
* No. 44.
t Nos. 46 and 47.
‡ No. 48.
No. 1 in Miscellaneous No. 815.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :--
885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
72
III. TROPICAL DISEASES BUREAU.