lxxviii 



grow for a short time, and if they arc not caught before the water is 

 exhausted they must perish, unless they bury themselves. It is conse- 

 quently proposed that two inches should be the minimum size of the 

 mesh of the nets. The village officers should be made responsible for 

 carrying this rule into force, under the general supervision of the Police 

 and Talooka officials, and punishment in cases of breach of the rule 

 brought to notice would ensure its being generally observed in a short 

 time. Fishing in tanks of drinking-water should be forbidden. The 

 destruction of small fish and fry is more likely to be carried on if the 

 fisheries are let by the year, than if they were for a longer term : in the 

 latter case they will not be destroyed every year, as the contractor 

 knows that the benefits to be reaped from preserving them would be his ; 

 but in the former case he would never feel sure of getting the fishery 

 next year, and would therefore do his best to get all the fish he could, 

 whilst he had the opportunity. Besides, contractors prefer renting for 

 more than one year, as it is more difficult to settle with sub-renters 

 or fishermen every year in good time. The Bezwada weir on the Kistna 

 has proved itself to be a great bar to the sea-fish going up the river 

 for breeding, and those above this construction have decreased. Besides 

 small-meshed nets, baskets are used which have the smallest interstices. 

 Fish, when very young, are undoubtedly destroyed to a great extent. 

 There would be no difficulty in regulating the minimum size of the mesh 

 of nets in all fisheries that are rented out, but it should be done gradual- 

 ly, and one year's notice will be sufficient ; two inches in circumference is 

 proposed ; no objection exists to prohibiting netting within 100 yards of 

 weirs. On April 20th, 1871, a list of the fisheries which it was proposed 

 to let out was sent to the Revenue Board, who direct " that special pro- 

 vision may be made for ensuring that villagers shall, as far as possible, be 

 allowed to retain the fishery rights of all waters within the limits of 

 their villages." 



153. The Acting Collector of Nettur (October 26th, 1869) reported 



that the right of Government to let the 



Opinions of European officials fisheries in this district has not been fully 



in the Nellur Collectorate. . . , . . J 



exercised as yet, and has not been called in 



question in the few cases in which it has ; some fishermen will consider 

 having to pay rents a grievance, while the revenue would be insignificant, 

 and press hardly on an already impoverished class. There is an irriga- 

 tion weir on the Pennair in Nellur, and it is supposed that fish have 

 decreased in consequence ; they have also diminished above the anicut, 

 and their ascent is arrested by it. No particular care is taken not to 

 destroy the fry. There would be great difficulty in regulating the size 

 of the mesh of nets ; a year's notice should be given. Major Clay, Assist- 

 ant Engineer (October 17th, 1867) mentions a case in which " a small 

 gunta was poisoned by some Mussulmen with a view of taking the fish. 

 No fish have been seen in the pool since, and the effect of the poison on 

 the water seems, in the opinion of the natives, to be such, as still to pre- 

 vent them using the water •" and this was two years subsequently. 



154. The Collector of Bellary (July 17th, 1869) states, he is 



not of opinion that the introduction of any 



Opinions of Europenn officials meagnreB8ndlM those proposed, is cither 

 in the Bellary Lolleetorate. ' i / . . 



necessary or advisable. Ihe only localities 



