lviii 



chiefly inhabited by Bhils or Kolis, all but Brahmins are said to eat fish, 

 Of late years the amount in the waters has decreased j small ones are 

 taken in greater or less quantities everywhere during the rains, by means 

 of small nets, baskets placed under water with bread and gram in them, 

 basket traps fixed in currents, and by hooks. The smallest mesh of the 

 nets employed is of the size of a grain of gram. Breeding fish are trap- 

 ped in the irrigated fields during the rains in some of the talookas. The 

 modes of taking fish are given as follows ; nets of sorts, as drag-nets for 

 the pools in the rivers, cast-nets of various sizes, also others somewhat simi- 

 lar to shrimp nets, termed " Chabha" and " Peine," namely, those fixed 

 to a triangular frame of wood, with a handle for fishing; these are 

 used in the shallow streams. Basket traps, " Malai," are of the usual 

 kind, or the rat-trap principle, so that no fish once in can get out. Large 

 cloths, " Jholes," are often used as a substitute for nets. Poison is frequently 

 had resort to in order to kill or stupefy fish. The leaves of a plant called 

 " Soopli," Clitorea turnalea, are much used for this purpose, also tobacco 

 leaves and the milk bush, as well as the " Gel Phul" or fruit of the 

 Vangneria spinosa, which is powdered and thrown into the water. Dams 

 are also constructed in small streams ; the water laded out and the fish 

 captured, or else after the completion of the dam they are driven into traps 

 or nets of different kinds. 



115. The Mamlutdars in the Ahmednuggwr Collector ate report that 



there are from 2 to 3,000 fishermen in the 

 Opinions of native officials in district but th f n th occupations 



the Ahmeunuggur Collectorate. , . , ' „ ■ f, . . ,' 7 



besides that ot fishing', such as cultivation, 

 day-labourers ; &c. ; their castes are Bhoee, Koli, Kahar. The markets 

 are said to be insufficiently supplied. On an average two-thirds of the 

 population will eat fish, but it does not, unless they are fishermen, form 

 a portion of their regular diet. The number of fish are said to have 

 decreased of late years owing to the deficiency of rain. The minimum 

 size of the mesh of the nets is stated to be equal to that of a grain of 

 gram. Fish are said not to be trapped in the irrigated fields during* the 

 rains. Besides the use of nets and hooks, waters are poisoned with the 

 milk bush. 



11G. The native officials in the Puna Collectorate state that there 



are about 800 fishermen, but they do not confine 



thfpunrCollecSe!* 50 ^ ° f themselves to nshin g" for a livelihood ; their 



castes are Murathu Bhoee, Kolis, Kongadee 

 Bhoee, Kar Bhoee (Purdesee), Wuradee Bhoee. The markets are in- 

 sufficiently supplied. There is nothing to prevent the majority of the 

 people eating fish. Many small ones are captured during the rains, but 

 they are not trapped in the irrigated fields, as there are but few of such. 

 The implements employed are a large casting net, " Pagur ;" a small drag- 

 net with poles attached resembling a cricket net, " Zilla •" small nets 

 termed " Bhoosu" and " Waoree •" large drag-nets " Pundee" and 

 " Luhowkaree ;" " Tivree/' which resembles the Bhoosu, but has a larger 

 mesh ; " Patee" and " Challum," made of bamboo and net, and placed 

 at the opening in a dam constructed across a stream ; " Ganjwa" is 

 a sort of drag- net, and " Surkee," a small net; " Basgul," " Chhudigul," 

 and " Lumdore" are reels containing different lengths of line with baited 

 hooks attached. 



