Ixvii 



139. The Madras Government (30th April 1 869) directed that all 



pieces of inland waters should be leased out 



n, , e , , ,, , n iu order to «ive a distinct interest to some 



Orders of the Madras Govern- ; & . . ,. . . n , . 



meut aud of the Revenue Board, person in preventing indiscriminate nshmg, 



that provision should be made in the con- 

 tracts, for the protection of fish in regard to the size of the mesh used, 

 viz., four inches in circumference, the periods and localities for fishing, the 

 draining off water in tanks and the poisoning of rivers ; that fish passes 

 should be constructed at anicuts, and rewards given for the destruction 

 of vermin that destroy fish, and the prohibition of fishing during certain 

 months, October to February inclusive, in the irrigation channels through 

 which the young fish pass down to the sea ; and that such should come 

 in force on July 1st, 1869. These orders also included the prohibition 

 of the use of nets within 100 yards of anicuts and such like masonry works 

 extending across streams. The lievenue Board (May 28th, 1SG9) 

 considered that headmen of villages should hold the fisheries at a 

 small royalty, or that protective rules should be embodied in a brief 

 Fishery Act. They neither approved of an inch between the meshes of 

 nets, nor prohibiting the taking of breeding fish detained near irrigation 

 weirs. The Madras Government (June 25th, 1869) saw no reason why pro- 

 tective measures should be deferred, but would not object to the details 

 being modified as regards letting the fisheries, and the minimum size of 

 the mesh of the nets. The Board of Revenue (August 27th, 1869) again 

 objected, stating that 13 Collectors agreed in reporting that no wanton 

 destruction of fish takes place, and that no protective measures are needed. 

 The Madras Government decided "no orders are necessary on these 

 papers." The instructions to district officers were called for. The 

 Board of Revenue (October 23rd, 1869) stated that no detailed orders on 

 the subject were issued. The Madras Government (November 19th, 1869) 

 observe, " that they saw no reason why the protective measures suggest- 

 ed should be deferred, but permitted some of the details to be partially 

 modified as proposed by the Board. On the receipt of this last com- 

 munication, it was clearly the duty of the Board to have immediately 

 issued the necessary orders to Collectors, but this it appears has not been 

 done. The Board will, accordingly, now be instructed to give effect to 

 the orders which should have been brought into operation on the 1st of 

 July last." On December 18th, the Board issued their instructions 

 (para. 148), modifying the minimum size of the mesh of nets to three 

 inches (instead of four) all round, and offering certain rewards for vermin 

 killed within one mile of irrigation weirs. Fish were to be passed over 

 weirs (see para. 152), whilst the subsidiary orders partially nullify the 

 original propositions. The Acting Secretary to the Madras Government 

 (October 5th, 1869) reported to the Secretary to the Government of 

 Iudia that "the Government have already decided on adopting the 

 protective measures advocated by Dr. Day for fresh- water fisheries." 

 Finally (July 12th, 1872), on being asked for "information showing the 

 results from letting the fresh-water fisheries from July last year" (1871), 

 the Acting Sub-Secretary to the Board replied, "the Board are not aware that 

 any special measures have been adopted in the matter of leasing fisheries 

 during the past revenue year;" from which it would almost appear 

 doubtful if the foregoing instructions have yet been brought into oper- 



