11 



Page. 



FlSn IN AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW . . . .37 



The proportion of persons who use fish as foot! — Local markets insuffi- 

 ciently supplied. 



The fresh-water fisheries . . . . .40 



How wasteful injuries to fisheries commence — Breeding fish and fry 

 wastefully destroyed — -The supply of fish in the waters decreasing — 

 To whom the fisheries helong — Why British rules and regulations 

 have a disastrous effect on fisheries — How fisheries were worked 

 under native rulers — How they are treated under British law. 



The Fishermen ...... 49 



Who the fishermen are — How fisheries are worked. 



Fixed engines . . . . . .57 



What fixed engines are — Those made of elastic materials — Those of 

 non-elastic substances, and weirs — 'Fixed traps. 



Moveable fishing implements ..... 65 



Composed of elastic or non-elastic substances — The smallest size of 

 the mesh of nets employed — Seasons when different meshes are 

 used — Effect of regulating the minimum size of the mesh of nets — 

 Damming waters for fishing purposes — Diverting rivers or streams — 

 Waters may be poisoned — Sometimes solely to obtain the fish — 

 Minor modes of fishing. 



Vermin which destroy fish ..... so 



Crocodiles as vermin — The fish-eating crocodile — The common crocodile — 

 Otters as vermin — Minor fish-destroying vermin. 



Objections to legal action being taken . . . .85 



Primary objections — Divine reasons — General objections — Legal objec- 

 tions — Regulations deemed unnecessary — Zoological objections — 

 Political objections — Social objections — Fishermen's objections — 

 Trading objections — Result of want of regulations elsewhere. 



Suggestions as to what legal steps are necessary . . 91 



Reasons why such are desirable — General reasons — Regulations pro- 

 posed — A necessity for restricting the minimum size of the mesh 

 of nets — Minimum size proposed — Prohibiting the sale of the fry 

 of fish in bazars — Further proposals. 



Fishery Laws of Great Britain .... 104 



Fishery laws of Great Britain — Right of fishing — Nature of right of 

 fishing — Right of property in a fishery — Fishing weirs when legal — 

 Fixed engines — Size of mesh of nets in England — Laws for the 

 preservation of fry in England — Other illegal modes of fishing — 

 Poisoning waters — Fish roe — Weekly close time — Close season and 

 prohibition of fixed engines — Taking unclean fish — Spawning 

 salmon — All fishing amenable to the general laws — Boards of 

 conservators — Weirs and fish passes — Remedies that have been 

 tried — Beneficial results that have ensued. 



Results of this enquiry . . . . .110 



Propositions as to what. action is necessary . . . 112 



Legal action required. 



A general Fishery Act ..... 113 



One necessary — Skeleton of Act. 



Bye-Laws or Local Acts ..... 114 



Local regulations — Fence months— Regulating the minimum size of 

 the mesh of nets — Minor modes of fishing— Vermin — Who is to 

 pay for regulations, if any are to be carried out? 



