CORRESPONDENCE. 897 



They keep the sea for weeks together in the fair season, running into Din 

 for supplies of salt. The catches are salted at sea and are imported at the 

 end of the season. Large quantities of salted fish from this source are brought 

 down to Bombay. 



7. In the Northern and Southern Konkan, the rivers consists mainly 

 of estuaries running from inland. The fresh water courses of these rivers 

 are short and of no great volume, except in the rains. The beds of most 

 of the tributary streams are dry during a great part of the year. It follows 

 that the fresh water fisheries are not of so much importance, though a certain 

 quantity is taken from the streams as they fall, by means of weirs, nets 

 and traps. Much of the fish so taken would die in any case owing to 

 the drying up of the streams. On the other hand, the sea-fishing is of 

 great importance. The sea is thoroughly exploited to a distance of eight or 

 ten miles from the coast, by large vessels, whose appliances are quite as 

 good as those used by fishermen on the South coast of England. Nearer 

 land, smaller boats are used, and in the estuaries and on banks stake nets 

 are permanently fixed. The amount of capital employed is considerable. 

 The fishermen who supply the Bombay Market have learnt the use of ice, 

 and the amount of fish sent from Bombay to all parts of India must be 

 considerable. 



8. To sum up, the sea-fishing industry in this Presidency is in a high state 

 of development ; the fresh water fisheries are important and flourishing in Sind, 

 while elsewhere they are insignificant. 



9. From the foregoing short sketch it will be evident that so far as this 

 Presidency is concerned there is no need for the adoption of preventive 

 measures. Government are however of opinion that the question of improving 

 the fishing industry can be considered with advantage. The subject falls natu- 

 rally under the following heads : — 



(1) The exploitation of the fishing grounds ; 



(2) The preservation of the supply of fish ; 



(?>) The utilization of the catches by access to markets, curing, smoking 

 canning, etc.; 

 and each of these heads must be considered with reference to fisheries in (1) 

 fresh water, and (2) the sea and estuaries. 



10. It does not appear that any action on the part of Government is called 

 for in this Presidency in respect of inland fisheries, or in i-espect of the exploi- 

 tation of sea fisheries including fishing in estuaries. It is in this latter respect 

 that the great difference between Bombay on the one hand and Bengal and 

 Madras on the other is most apparent. The sea-fishing industry of this 

 Presidency is in a high state of development, while in Bengal it has apparently 

 yet to be created and in Madias the reports contain much evidence of the 

 inferiority of the enterprise and equipment of the industry. 



11. The question of the preservation of sea fisheries does not arise, as 

 owing to the amazing fecundity of the fish, the harvest of the sea is so bounti- 



