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depopulated rivers : the depth of tanks, or the presence of 

 foreign suhstances as roots, trees, &c., or the poverty of the 

 general population. In most of such districts, it is usually 

 seen that fishing is not followed out as a distinct employ- 

 ment, whilst the mesh of the nets is as small as the rapidity 

 of the current will allow to he used. Sometimes, even in 

 districts where the fishing is, or was good, the general 

 public have been permitted to act as fishermen, whether 

 adults, throughout the year, or only during the rains, 

 and even women and children assist, or a species of 

 scramble occurs as to who shall get the most — a plan 

 which soon eventuates in the poverty of fisheries, for only 

 the conscience of the fisherman stands between them and 

 their greed, the latter, as might be anticipated, rapidly 

 gaining the mastery. With the deterioration of these 

 fisheries the fishermen become poorer and poorer, unless 

 they turn to other sources of earning money. At first, no 

 doubt, pleased at not having to pay rent, and all restrictions 

 being removed, they employ redoubled energy, and increase 

 their profits ; but soon the population find they may fish as 

 well as the fishermen, and, taking advantage of this per- 

 mission, the supply becomes temporarily augmented, the price 

 slightly falling. At the end of one or two years, fish become 

 much scarcer, and those who, for a time became fishermen, 

 revert to their legitimate calling. As soon as the young fish 

 are moving about, or shortly after the monsoons have set in, 

 the wives of these men are sent out fishing, and they, with 

 the aid of their children, obtain myriads of fry from every 

 sheltered spot to where these small and immature fish retire 

 for shelter and security, they not being able to face strong 

 currents or live in deep waters. Every device that can be 

 imagined is now called into action ; nets, which will not 

 permit a mosquito to pass, are employed ; even the use of 

 cloths is called into exercise. The sides of the rivers are 

 denuded of fish, so far as human agency can contrive it. 

 Neither are the agricultural population idle ; they construct 

 wicker-work traps, baskets, and nets ; these traps do not 

 permit anything to pass : a fish, once in, cannot return, as 

 they resemble rat traps, having an easy entrance, but, once 

 in, retreat becomes impossible. So soon as mature fish 

 commence passing up the small water-courses at the sides of 

 the rivers and streams, these traps come into play, and the 

 breeding-fish are taken. The few which escape are not yet 

 safe, for, as they return and the fry move about, these traps 

 are reversed, so that every fish, down to those of the most 



