( 114 ) 



the traps fixed in fishing weirs, whilst a notice of all sanc- 

 tioned should be ye:a*ly given in the district gazettes. 

 Thirdly, that the bunding and turning of streams for fishing 

 purposes, especially in hill-ranges, be entirely prohibited, 

 which rule should also (subject to local exceptions) be applied 

 to tanks in the low country, unless they yearly dry up, but 

 it should only then be allowed after all communication with 

 running water has naturally ceased. Fourthly, that every 

 irrigation weir spanning a river have a practicable fish-pass 

 in it ; and that all irrigation canals have either a grating 

 or other contrivance at their entrance to prevent fish going 

 down them, or fish-passes at every fall, and gratings at each 

 distributary, whilst the killing of fish during such periods 

 as the canals are closed be absolutely interdicted. 



Bye-laws or Local Acts. 



CXXVI. — Local Acts or bye-laws will be most essential, 

 T , , .. in order to suit the requirements of 



Local regulations. , . . ,.. T x . 



districts, and here 1 propose adverting 

 to what such seem to me to be necessary, and how some whicli 

 are now approved of, I cannot think will work well when 

 practically tried. In the appendix under the heads of the 

 various Governments, I have observed upon such local regu- 

 lations as appear to be desirable : so, here only general re- 

 marks are necessitated. 



CXXVII. — Fence months, seasons, times, or in respect 



to species of fish, whether in the hills 



Fence months. f .. , . . n , 



or m the plains, appear to nnd many 

 advocates, and may be briefly examined under the following 

 heads. First, in the plains ; secondly, in the hilly regions ; 

 thirdly, in certain peculiar localities as at the tail of irriga- 

 tion or other weirs; fourthly, as the institution of stock-pools 

 in rivers ; and, lastly, as regards certain species of fish, of 

 which it is proposed to declare it illegal to be possessed of 

 their fry or young. Of course, the first local enquiry should 

 be, — will the imposition of fence month act injuriously on the 

 health of the people at large by depriving them at certain 

 seasons of a necessary article of diet ? Secondly, will the 

 entire occupation of fishermen be cut off, leaving any num- 

 ber of them without any means of subsistence ? If we now 

 examine the five enquiries which I have suggested, the first 

 (1) is the policy or necessity of instituting fence months in 

 the plains of India, I am unable to see how such could be 

 practicably imposed, except at excessive cost, and if not 



