CO885-(21-23) — Page 532

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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wwimmim C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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tsetse fly (G. morsitans), local conditions obviously being favourable, we find from Dr. May's report that the number of cases detected in human beings has decreased

since 1909.

It is at last recognised that the feature upon which the Liverpool experts based their opinions that the casual trypanosome was a distinct species is met with in other and well known and widely distributed species, and I (as well as Bruce) was able to demonstrate to the workers in the Pretoria Laboratory that it was present in a strain of T. brucei obtained in the first place from Zululand, where this try- panosomiasis has in all probability existed for years without, as far as we know, causing any appreciable mortality in human beings.

Therefore, as far as Rhodesia is concerned, I consider that, although it is desirable to take active measures to eliminate this disease, these should not be of a panic" nature nor so drastic as to draw unfavourable attention to this Colony, which under present conditions is making satisfactory progress; and I am confident that, with the assistance of expert advisers, the medical officers of these Colonies, acting upon a practical rather than a theoretical knowledge of the conditions which prevail, are competent to deal with the situation.

Fencing. I do not know the nature of the experiment which it is proposed to conduct, but a considerable experience of fencing in Southern Rhodesia leads [me] to think that any experiment which depends upon fencing to control the movements of

game is likely to fail.

Only recently a scheme to fence the southern boundary of Southern Rhodesia to prevent the illicit introduction of cattle from the south had to be abandoned although many miles of fence had been erected, because it was found that not only the larger wild animals but also herds of small game could break down with ease the stoutest fence.

Also, in a broken country it is almost impossible to satisfactorily lay the fence over rocks and kopjes and across sluits and waterways.

The cheapest form of fence in any degree reliable will not cost less than £50 a mile.

Destruction of Game.-Here, again, I can only venture to express an opinion on the question as far as it relates to Rhodesia.

Any drastic measure or attempt at wholesale destruction of game is likely to cause adverse criticism at home as well as in the Colony. My experience of organised "shoots" is that they have always proved unqualified failures. It is true that the game may be driven from a district for the time being, but it returns when the hunters have withdrawn.

In Southern Rhodesia the "Game Law Consolidation Ordinance, 1906," pro- vides for the destruction of certain animals under certain circumstances, and until recently (31st March, 1913) Government Notice No. 216 of 1911 and No. 387 of 1911 provided for the payment of rewards for the destruction of wild carnivora.

From the observations of several observers in different infected areas it has been found that the animals in which the offending trypanosome has been most commonly met with are waterbuck, hartebeeste, reedbuck and warthog, and rarely in a few others.

I would therefore suggest that war should be waged upon these animals in fly areas by placing them in the open class under the Ordinance and by offering a reward for every pair of horns (or tusks) brought in by hunters (native or European) to certain Government officials authorised to pay them.

If this were carried out and natives were informed by their Commissioners of this new source of income and urged to avail themselves of it, I am confident that this source of danger would rapidly diminish.

This method, in my opinion, is less likely to give rise to any opposition and disturbance than more drastic measures, which are calculated to defeat their own ends.

I wish it to be understood, however, that this is merely my own personal opinion, which may not coincide with that of the medical departments of Rhodesia, with which I am not conversant, but which should be obtained through official sources.

Yours faithfully,

LE G. W. BEVAN.

16463

(No. 193.)

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No. 28.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 15 May, 1913.)

[Copy enclosure to Foreign Office, 28 May, 1913. L.F.]

Lagos, 24th April, 1913 (London, 13th May, 1913).

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith two sealed and 12 unsealed copies of Regulation No. 4 of 1913, made under "The Wild Animals, Birds and Fish Preser- vation Ordinance," for the better protection of female, tuskless, and immature elephants.

I have, &c.,

F. D. LUGARD,

Enclosure in No. 28.

REGULATION No. 4 OF 1913.

Governor.

REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE WILD ANIMALS, BIRDS AND FISH PRESERVATION ORDINANCE.

At a meeting of the Executive Council, held at Government House, Lagos, on Friday the 4th day of April, 1913.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Deputy Governor,

A. G. BOYLE, C.M.G.

The Honourable the Attorney-General, A. R. PENNINGTON, K.C.

The Honourable the Financial Commissioner,

C. E. DALE, Esq.

The Honourable the Principal Medical Officer,

W. H. LANGLEY, C.M.G.

Under and by virtue of the provisions of Section three (b) of the Wild Animals, Birds and Fish Preservation Ordinance, the following Regulations are hereby made by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Southern Nigeria with the advice of the Executive Council thereof as follows:-

(1) The holder of a licence shall not hunt, kill or capture more than two

mature male elephants during the period of his licence.

(2) No female elephants mature or immature and no immature male elephants

may be hunted, killed or captured in any district.

(3) The holder of a licence shall, when he applies for the endorsement of his licence under Regulation nine of 1909, endorse on his licence the number of elephants killed or captured by him. No licence shall be endorsed if the licensee has killed or captured more than one elephant. An endorsed licence shall only authorize the licensee to kill or capture one mature male elephant in that district.

(4) No person shall apply for more than one licence to kill or capture elephants

under Regulation nine of 1909.

(5) Any person who contravenes any of the foregoing regulations shall be liable on conviction before a Police Magistrate or District Commis- sioner to a penalty not exceeding twenty-five pounds or to imprison- ment for a term not exceeding three months with or without hard labour. His licence (if any) shall also be revoked.

(6) For the purposes of these Regulations "district" means a district as

defined under the Supreme Court Ordinance.

"Immature male elephant" means an elephant with protruding tusks of a weight less than 25 lbs. each.

C. T. LAWRENCE,

Ordered in Council this 4th day of April, 1913. A. G. BOYLE,

Deputy Governor.

Clerk of Executive Council.

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