No. 4 (1920) THE FISHERIES OF THE NILGIRIS T47 



prevalence of such quantities of live fish food, it seems clear that 

 the river ij not nearly carrying its full fish-bearing capacity. 

 Owing to the easy approach and nearness of the main Gudalur- 

 Masiniguch road to the middle portion of this section and the 

 easy access to the upper and lower reaches, I consider it would be 

 easy and cheap to protect. 



Suggestions — Re-stocking.— I suggest that this section should be 

 stocked with Malabar carp or other suitable fish such as mahseer. 



If granted permission I could transfer a quantity of the former 

 under my own supervision from the Nadgani or other Malabar 

 rivers. 



Carriers and nets. — Suitable carriers and nets I have already 

 in my possession. 



Section III.— Lower Moyar. 



Starting from below the high falls into the Mysore Ditch 

 down to where the river joins the Bhavani this section has no 

 natural obstruction and fish can pass along the entire distance. 



Description of the high reaches. — Immediately below these falls 

 the river has a solid rock bed with narrow precipitous unapproach- 

 able sides and few men ever venture up so far. 



It is here free from traps and poaching. It flows over a rocky 

 and rough bed which, after some distance, is replaced by gravel 

 reaches broken by small islands. As the ditch opens out and 

 allows room for camps on the banks, the signs of poaching are 

 evident and various. 



Artificial dam.— The first I came across was an artificial dam 

 constructed from an island to one side of the river, the flow being 

 diverted to the opposite side-and trapped with a wooden hurdle 

 similar to that used in the Bhavani and described in my report. 



Construction of dam.— The dam was constructed of stones, mud, 

 leaves and branches firmly set together and built in the shape of a 

 crescent, thus forming this portion of the river into a still pool with 

 no through flow, the object being to cause the fish to collect and 

 make the poison which they use to capture them more effective. 



Evidence of poison. — On examining the banks beside the dam 

 I found numerous small dead fish including small eels evidently 

 cast aside as not being large enough to take. On the island were 

 masses of fish scales and similar patches at the side of the 

 artificial pool. 

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