lxxxi 



breeding fish to escape to the sea, as so fully understood by the Collector 

 of Tanjur in the last para. Stopping- fishing- during- the periods specified 

 would appear to show most conclusively that the sable fish now no longer 

 conies into this Collectorate during the freshes, as it did prior to the con- 

 struction of the lower Coleroon weir.] The Acting Collector continues, 

 " I agree with the Board in thinking, at present, no restrictions as to the 

 size of the meshes are necessary or desirable." [As the supply of fish 

 in this, for the south of India, well-watered district, is said to be " very 

 limited," whereas it was formerly abundant, it is to be regretted that the 

 period at which restrictions are proposed to be commenced has not been 

 recorded.] 



157. The Collector of CiuUajmli (July 24th, 1869) reported that 



as the average rainfall of the district is only 

 Opinion of the Collector of 17 [ nc \ ieS} an( j t h e rivers and tanks annually 



ap ' dry up, there are next to no fish. Consequent- 



ly it does not appear necessary to record any other reply to Dr. Day's string 

 of questions. No revenue has ever been attempted to be raised here from, 

 fish, nor is Cuddapah once mentioned in his reports. [The question is 

 not one of revenue, but of food supply. The reason the district is not 

 mentioned by me, is due to not having as yet had the opportunity of per- 

 sonally examining it ; but it is to be regretted the Collector has not given 

 his personal experience by replying to the questions on its fish and fish- 

 eries.] On November 1st, 1869, the same officer observed that there are 

 no fisheries to speak of in the district ; so he has taken no measures on 

 the Government orders respecting letting them; and on March 7th, 1872, 

 that there are no perennial streams in his collectorate, and with but few ex- 

 ceptions no water in any tank all the year round ; consequently there are 

 few fish and no means of improving the breed. Legislation is uncalled for ; 

 and therefore he had considered it unnecessary to collect the information 

 which has been called for. 



158. The Collector of Kumal (February 25th, 1869) reported that 



the chief rivers in his district are a part of 

 . ^mions of European officials th Kistna a part f the Toongbhudra, the 

 in the Kurnal Collectorate. > -i . . » . 



Hmdry, and five others which, with the excep- 

 tion of the two first, dry up more or less during the hot season. There is 

 a long extent of the Kistna which has no villages on its banks, and which 

 is never fished in. This reach may be looked on as a large breeding 

 place, which is seldom approached by man, and where the fish are undis- 

 turbed. " I would deprecate in the strongest terms any measures being 

 taken by Government to interfere with the fish-supply of the inha- 

 bitants of this district. The only way in which Government could inter- 

 fere, would be by means of an establishment of subordinates who would 

 avail themselves of their authority to practise extortion and oppress the 

 poor, who are generally the only people who fish, and never really repress 

 the destruction of fish. If anything could repress their destruction to 

 any extent, it would be the forbidding to catch fish with roe. But this 

 would be tantamount to depriving the people of a wholesome and pleasant 

 diet, and interfere with the great traffic in fish roes which now takes 

 place. Some fish, too, are only good for eating when heavy with roe, such 

 as the sable, caught extensively by means of baskets hung over the water as 

 it falls over the Toongbhudra weir. I would strongly recommend leaving 



/ 



