45

Produce statistics.

8. The remarks of the Superintendent on the important subject of the
registration of produce are somewhat brief. The
results recorded are compared for the different divi-
sions of the Presidency in the following table:—

Note.—The results of 27 coverings of one stallion in Shikárpur not being received for 1896-97 have been shown
under results unknown.

I venture to think that this table indicates that the results are fairly satis-
factory. The statistics are well known to be unreliable, and the improvement
of them is under consideration. The unreliability probably varies to a
considerable extent with the proportion of "results unknown." The quantity
of these is in Gujarát almost nil, in the Deccan high, and in Sind exceedingly
high. But the satisfactory point to note is that in Gujarát, the province in
which the unknown results are nil, the percentage of produce is over 46 on
the mares covered. The Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, in
paragraphs 141 to 144 of his last report, indicates 40 as a fair standard, and
quoted 47 in Beluchistan as very satisfactory. I feel little doubt that the
actual standard attained throughout the Presidency is not short of this figure, to
show which nothing more is required than fuller and. more correct registration.

Suitability of stallions as
foal-getters.

9. Great caution is required in drawing from the existing statistics any
inferences as to the relative merits as foal-getters of
the different classes of stallions. The figures for the
last two years in the table given by the Superintend-
ent at paragraph 37 of his report show the Arab pony first, the Norfolk Trotter
second, the Arab horse third, and the Thorough-bred last. Taking Gujarát alone,
where the statistics are most reliable, it will be found that, upon last year's
statistics, the Arab pony was successful in 63, the Arab horse in 47 and the
Thorough-bred in only 35 per cent. of the coverings. The only inference that
I venture to suggest is that the pony stallion of whatever breed is, in a country
like Gujarát, where the mares are small, a surer foal-getter than the horse, and
the Arab horse probably a somewhat surer foal-getter for the same reason than
the larger-made Thorough-bred.

Improvement of the regis-
tration of produce.

10 Measures for improving the registration of produce are still under consi-
deration. It had been proposed to prescribe registers
to be filled in by village officers, which would, it
was to be hoped, furnish more complete and accurate
information than the existing returns. Caution will have to be observed in
this matter. Experience in the North-Western Provinces and Punjáb, where
village registers have been introduced, seems to show that they may not be of
much value, and the accuracy, which it has been found possible to obtain with-
out them both in the Gujarát districts of this Presidency and in Beluchistan,
suggests that the existing agency can be made to furnish good returns without
assistance from the village officers. My own view has hitherto been that village
registers might be of considerable use. But Mr. Ozanne was of a somewhat
different opinion. The Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, also in
paragraph 122 of his report describes a system of check on the Inspector's

B 563—12