668 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVIII. 



6, Apollo Street, 

 Bombay, 16th January l'Ju8. 

 From 



The Honoraby Secretary, 



Bombay Natural History Society, 



Bombay ; 

 To 



The Secretary to Government, 



General Department, 



Bombay. 

 Sir, — I am directed by my Committee to draw the favour of your attention 

 to their communication dated the 11th March last, wherein prominence was 

 given to the need for the introduction of some form of protective legislation to 

 prevent the present apparently wholesale destruction of the fry and fresh water 

 fish in this Presidency. 



In doing so, my Committee instructed me to forward for the information of 

 Government two papers entitled " Estuary Fishing in Western India " and 

 "Protective Legislation for Indian Fisheries " which appeared in the Society's 

 Journal in February last. 



My Committee presume that the subject is obtaining the consideration of 

 Government, but as they have heard nothing since the 26th of March last, when 

 the receipt of this communication was acknowledged, they venture to once 

 more urge upon Government that the beneficial results of any effective legisla- 

 tion " would be apparent in most creeks and rivers in a very few years," and 

 that the need for some action in this matter is being recognised in other parts 

 of India, notably Madras, where it is observed that an official has actually been 

 appointed as Pisciculturist to Government. 



My Committee direct me to ask Government to favourably consider the 

 expediency of creating a Fisheries Department, one of the immediate functions 

 of which would be the enforcing of an Act which might be so framed as to 

 mitigate the inconvenience which the average native fisherman will undoubted- 

 ly at first feel ; but the provision of which would, in a short time, lead to a 

 very appreciable augmentation in his supplies. 



If further enquiries are deemed to be necessary to justify the introduction 

 of a mild form of legislation, my Committee desire me to submit for considera- 

 tion the expediency of appointing a Commission or an Official to continue the 

 investigations already started. 



I have the honour to be. 

 Sir, 

 Your most obedient Servant, 

 (Sd.) W. S. Millard. 

 Honorary Secretary, 

 Bombay Natural History Society. 



