xlvii 



98. The Collector of Nasik reported (June 14th, 1871) that there 



are no organized fisheries in the Collectorate, 



. Opinions of European ° mcials though almost every river is more or less 

 in the Nasik Collectorate. ^ i i i ,1 -n *v -j_ i i 



fished by the villagers residing on its banks. 



The principal fishermen are the Bhils and Kolis, and also the Bhoees, 

 and they fish principally for the purpose of providing food for home 

 consumption, but not for sale. In the Godaveri, there are in some of the 

 pools vast numbers of fish. Although there are no defined rights as regards 

 fisheries, the people of villages look upon the fishing places adjoining 

 their domiciles as belonging to them, not to the exclusion of fishing on 

 behalf of Government, but as against any other villagers with large nets 

 fishing within their boundaries. Indeed in some places they object to 

 even a small net being thrown by any stranger. In a later report 

 (April 10th, 1872) the Collector observed that breeding and very 

 young ones are destroyed to a great extent. Fish are caught all the 

 year round, and little or no regard is paid to breeding seasons, nor are 

 any, however small, ever returned to the water. They are destroyed in 

 the pools in rivers and in tanks by means of large drag-nets. He observes 

 that he has seen a net of nearly one hundred yards long, used for the purpose 

 of dragging a large pool in the river Godaveri ; after it had been stretched 

 across this river, one end was gradually taken round, thus enclosing a 

 considerable space. While the dragging was going on, many fish com- 

 menced jumping over the net, when men with smaller nets placed behind 

 the larger one, caught them as they jumped. Cart-loads were taken in 

 this trial, and of many kinds. Smaller nets are more numerous than 

 drag ones, especially cast, purse and other varieties. Fish are also caught 

 in shallows, small pools, and irrigating channels, by nets, baskets, or 

 funnel-shaped wicker traps placed where there is a current of water. 

 Poisoning used to be very common, but eveiy attempt has been made to 

 put down this objectionable custom. But there are many other ways of 

 catching fish. Bhils fish in the following manner := — At every six or eight 

 feet of a long rope, a piece of the stalk of kurbi or jowaree is tied. The 

 rope is then stretched across the river, the men holding* it going up stream, 

 and three or four others coming after the rope beating the water. The 

 fish take refuge under the river's banks, whilst other Bhils catch them 

 with their hands. These fish are generallv under two inches in length. 

 Dams are also used in shallow waters, and the places so enclosed are dragged 

 with cloths or baled out, and all the fish taken. The meshes of some of 

 the nets are very small, as any are permitted, Government never having 

 attempted to frame any rules or to interfere in any way. There would be 

 considerable difficulties in regulating the size of the mesh of nets : first, it 

 would be unpopular with a large class who gain their livelihood by catch- 

 ing small fish, and no one would interfere to prevent breaches of the law ; 

 secondly, there are so many out-of-the-way places that it would be difficult 

 to enforce any order if issued. The sale of fry might be prohibited, 

 and this would be effective as regards bazars in large towns, but not in 

 the majority of the villages. No objection exists to prohibiting the cap- 

 ture of fish in the hilly districts during the first two months of the 

 monsoon, when they ascend there for breeding purposes, execept that such 

 an order could not be enforced. The Bhils and others would endeavour to 

 evade it, and there would be no way in the hills to compel obedience. 



