clxxii 



I know that in Loth, quantities of fish are annually destroyed when the 

 canals are allowed to run off. I have watched the first rush of water 

 let in, and have heen astonished at the shoals of fish brought down by 

 it. One instance I recollect. I was at the Mussoorie fall on the 

 Ganges canal in the Meerut district, when I saw hundreds of mahaseer 

 come down ; they were all carried over the fall, as they had been over a 

 dozen higher up between that point and Hurdwar, not one of which 

 could by any possibility have got back again up the canal. Such a 

 constantly recurring drain on the supply of fish in the head-waters has 

 naturally produced a great diminution in the numbers of the species 

 of fish, and as it is the one most generally taken by the Europeans, the 

 loss is more apparent. But I have little doubt that this injury to other 

 descriptions of fish is equally great. There are only two ways to 

 prevent this injury : the first and best would be by opposing some obstacle 

 at the head of the several canals to prevent the ingress of fish, or if 

 this is impossible, then to construct ladders at the different falls to 

 enable the fish to re-ascend the canals." £l would here point out that 

 this alone will not be sufficient. All destruction of fish should be totally 

 prohibited during the time the canals are closed, because fish only migrate 

 upwards at certain periods, and these may not coincide with the closure 

 of the canals; as the water becomes lower, the ladders will be useless 

 as no water will pass over them, and the fish be retained in the deep 

 holes, consequently they will need protection at that time. The fish- 

 ladders will be eminently useful to permit fish migrating for breeding 

 purposes, and so continue their species. Mr. Watson's most interesting 

 report distinctly shows how fish are now carried over impossible ascents ; 

 fixed engines in small water-courses act in the same way when breed- 

 ing-fishes are seeking shallow spots wherein to deposit their spawn, and 

 for this purpose push their way into irrigated fields, &c.J He continues — 

 " If either of these plans were adopted, I have no doubt that the fish- 

 supply, so far as it is injured by the canals, would soon regain its former 

 condition. I have never seen the system of poisoning waters carried 

 out, but there can be no doubt that it is a most pernicious one, and oug-ht 

 to be declared illegal." The destruction of crocodiles is not approved of, 

 first, because they are the scavengers of the rivers, ^crocodiles of the 

 genus Crocodilus, doubtless, are also scavengers besides destroying fish, 

 but the true fish-eating crocodile, Gavialis Gangeticus, and which is found 

 in the Indus and all its affluents, the Ganges and Jumna and their 

 feeders, also in the Brahmaputra and Mahanuddi, &c, entirely lives on fish, 

 and is never a scavenger ;] secondly, because of the difficulty. " In fine, 

 I would advocate fence months, a regulated size of mesh according 

 to license, with removal of all fixed engines, and prohibition of poison- 

 ing/' The Deputy Collector of Etah (February 6th, 1872) replied, that 

 there is little or no fishing carried on in this district, but he gives a very 

 interesting account of Bustee (see para. 331). 



335. The answers from the Native Officials, as a rule, are vague, 



incomplete, or not sent : most of those re- 

 Answer from Native Offacmls ce i ve d have been collated, in doing which 



not complete. . . , T . ' i , i * 



more pains would have improved them. As 



a sample, I give the following. In answer to the question — are the markets 



fully supplied with fish, or could more be sold? — one Collector condenses 



