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SECTION V. 



ECONOMIC CONDITION OF FISHERFOLK AND CURERS. 



EAST COAST. 



KASIPUR. 



Fishermen as a class cannot be called wealthy, and possess 

 very little money, land or other property, but by industry in their 

 pursuits which comprise fishing, manufacture of nets and the 

 necessary cordage, boat building and the construction of rafts, 

 they earn enough to provide for their few needs with a small 

 saving to the credit of a working capital, so that jointly or severally 

 they are able gradually to carry on business independently of 

 capitalists or middlemen. The community carefully watches over 

 its interests, zealously guarding against any intrusion by the 

 sowcar who is thus effectually excluded. Fishermen are remark- 

 able for their fraternity, and this feeling of fellowship is due to 

 combination in a common cause, coupled with every day partici- 

 pation in the dangers connected with the fishing industry. The 

 controlling of boats is merely the reservation of the fish by the 

 boats concerned in view to its sale to persons who have agreed to 

 buy up, for ready cash, all the fish caught within a fixed period 

 and who have paid a sum of money in advance. In this sense 26 

 of the ticket-holders control boats at Pottra. As the catches of 

 these boats are landed the price is fixed and cash payment made, 

 in full or in part, and in the latter case, the balance is adjusted 

 from the advance made, provided always that the whole advance 

 is not appropriated before the expiry of the stipulated periotl. 

 Some of the curers also purchase fish at Nungaleeswara for ready 

 cash. Hired labour both for the transport of fish from Pottra to 

 the yard and also to assist in actual fishing operations is usually 

 engaged. Labour though paid in cash is variable. Fishermen 

 hired to make up a fishing party receive as their wages a share of 

 the fish caught; the owner of the boat taking a double share for 

 himself and a single share for each member of his family forming 

 the party. In the case of controlled boats these shares are sold to 

 the persons who have contracted to buy them. Fishermen as a 

 rule make their own nets. 



PRAYAGI. 



The ticket-holders with the single exception of a Kevuta, are 

 Jalaris of Prayagi, Korlabadi, Ramalanka and Baliapuram. The 

 Kevuta is a merchant supplying the Konchoor market with cured 

 fish. He buys raw fish, cures it at the yard and takes it to the 

 market but does not engage himself in fishing. Seven ticket- 

 holders in addition to the fish they catch in conjunction with 

 others obtain fish from other fishermen under a system of contract. 

 The fishermen who are not ticket-holders sell the fish they catch in 

 the local market or to the ticket-holders under contract. Curing at 

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