lxxxiv 



whether they are breeding or young ones. The smallest-sized mesh of the 

 nets is one-fourth of an inch. As the fish are small, regulating the mini- 

 mum size would prove a failure to the pursuits of the fishermen, but half 

 an inch between the knots of the meshes is considered an advisable restric- 

 tion, and as it is desirable to prevent the destruction of very small fish, the 

 sale of the fry in the bazars may be prohibited. The Deputy Collector 

 of Kunial reports (April 16th, 1872) that breeding fish and very young 

 ones are destroyed to a great extent, principally between April aud June, 

 as the water in the larger tanks fails. Nets of various sizes and traps of 

 wicker work are used during December and January ; weirs are set up 

 across the streams and the fish captured. Sometimes earthen dams are 

 raised across streams, and the water baled out to catch fish. The 

 smallest sized mesh employed is three-eighths of an inch between each 

 knot : of the ' Oodulu' or traps of wicker work, the interstices are of 

 infinitely smaller dimensions ; five-eighths of an inch between the knot 

 of each mesh is proposed as a fair size ; as the fishes from the hilly dis- 

 tricts are mostly small, it is suggested that prohibiting the sale of fry 

 might cause the poorer classes to suffer. 



159. The Acting Collector of Madras (June 23rd, 1870) observes 



that the fresh-water rivers in his district are 

 Madras! 011 ° f ^ CoUector of dry, except during seasons of inundation. 



The fisheries in the smaller tanks are enjoyed 

 by the village communities, subject to the payment of a nominal rent; 

 whilst those in the larger tanks, or tanks irrigating several villages, are 

 put up to public auction, whenever the right of fishing in them is 

 considered worth being let. The smallest meshes employed are three- 

 fourths of an inch in circumference or even less ; there is no objection 

 prescribing in each lease the size to be employed, of which one year's 

 notice would be sufficient, and two inches in circumference as a minimum 

 size would be a good limit. 



160. The Acting Collector of Chinglejiut (April 18th, 1872) reports 



that all tanks and rivers in the district are 

 Cb?uglcput.° f thQ Collectorof usually dry in the hot weather, with the 



exception of the larger tanks, and these occa- 

 sionally dry up. Fishes of all sizes and in every state, if good for food, 

 are caught whenever possible. In the hot months, as the water becomes 

 low, all the fish are caught, the district being dependant yearly on those 

 brought down in the annual floods or on ova or other vitality remaining 

 dormant in the mud of tanks. No restriction as to size of mesh of nets 

 is necessary. Fence months in hilly districts would be advisable where 

 useful fish exist. 



161. The Collector of Salem (November 5th, 1869) considers 



leasing fisheries for five years and upwards, as 

 Opinion of the Collector preferable to ammal auct ioiis, and would let as 

 oi fealem. in ^ 



such all tanks that have an ayacut of not less 



than 25 acres. "I agree with the suggestion of my Sub-Collector that 



in such tanks as yield the chief supply of water for drinking purposes 



to large towns or villages, the fishing should be prohibited, as tending to 



preserve the purity of the water.'" Objects to a 4-inched mesh being 



the minimum size, as too large. 



