clii 



lost. As stated before, for political reasons, I think the time has not 

 arrived for interference, nor do I think any decrease of food-supply 

 has been proved, which should call for repressive measures." The 

 Collector of Bxulaon (February 23rd, 1872) reported, — " There is no doubt 

 that fish of every age, and in any condition, are captured in this district 

 in every season. I am not aware that there is any season especially 

 selected for this purpose. They are taken with drag-nets and casting- 

 nets, in baskets, and by damming' up the shallow beds of rivers, leaving 

 a passage through which the fish must pass, when they are without 

 difficulty caught. I have seen nets with meshes of3-i0thso£ an inch 

 between the knots, and I have no doubt smaller ones are used. I have 

 seen baskets where the interval between the straws is not more than the 

 thickness of cardboard. * * Very small fish are taken in the rains, and 

 also at other seasons. V\ henever water drains off the land or out of 

 streams, the water-holes are emptied of all the fish they contain. Nets 

 with meshes 3-10ths of an inch and baskets are used for fishing, and 

 very small fishes are thus captured. " " The classes who fish for profit 

 are chiefly Kahars and Bhatiaras." The markets are stated to be fairly 

 supplied with fish, which is eaten by all except the higher castes of 

 Hindus. The supply in the waters " is said to have decreased within 

 the last few years " " It appears to me that although complete protec- 

 tion to fish could not be afforded in the breeding season, yet that sufficient 

 protection might be afforded to ensure a future supply/'' A close season 

 is considered possible in the larger rivers, as fish ascend to deposit their 

 spawn, and" the size of the mesh might be restricted to 6-10ths or 8-10fhs 

 of an inch." But these measures, it is considered, would necessitate 

 the keeping up of an establishment for the purpose. The Officiating 

 Collector of Shahjekanpur (February 2-lth, 1872) observed, — " I have 

 seen very small fry caught during- and after the rains, by placing 

 strips of sirkee or other similar matting across water-courses, and at out- 

 lets of jbils. All fish of whatever size caught in the nets are used for 

 food. The supply is less in the winter than other months. " " If May, 

 June, and July were made close months, the supply of fish would be 

 likely to increase. Zemindars could usually put a stop to fishing in 

 their villages, if they exerted themselves, but it would require a special 

 law to enforce their duties/' The Collector, in 1S68, stated "he is of 

 opinion that an imposition of duty on fish would be the best course 

 to protect them, and prevent any wanton destruction." ["Levying a 

 duty or license on nets has apparently commenced to have this effect 

 in the Pan jab.] The Collector of Bijuonr (i860) reported that a wanton 

 destruction of fish is carried on to a certain extent in the Rivers Ram- 

 gunga and Khoh, by means of stake-nets, stretching from bank to bank. 

 He recommended licensing nets, and regulating the minimum mesh at 

 \\ inches between each knot. The Collector, in answer to the questions 

 circulated (March 2nd, 1872), answered, as to whether breeding-fish and 

 very young ones are destroyed to any great extent, — " I cannot speak from 

 my own experience, but from the reports furnished by the Tehsildars in an- 

 swer to the questions put to them, I think there can be no doubt that fishing 

 is carried on all the year round, and that all fish that are caught are used ; 

 neither breeding-fish nor any young ones can escape." The mesh of nets is 

 so small no fish can pass ; does " not see how it would be possible to regulate 



