clxxvii 



supplied in four, insufficiently in one, whilst in the last it is said to be 

 sufficiently so in October and March until June, but in the other months 

 not so. In four tehsils 75 per cent, of the people eat fish, in one 50 per 

 cent., and in one 80 per cent. Three of the Tehsildars assert fish have 

 decreased "owing to the indiscriminate destruction of young- fish;" 

 one that they are stationary, and two that an increase is apparent 

 " owing- to the copious rains of last year :" all report very small fish to be 

 captured, and the minimum size of the mesh is given at ^ an inch. 

 Every Tehsildar states fish are trapped in the irrigated fields during the 

 rains. In the Mirzapur Collectorate, the Tehsildars' replies have been 

 collated. There are said to be over 100 fishermen in the district, who 

 have no other occupation. Two Tehsildars consider the markets well 

 supplied with fish, one that the demand is much greater than the supply; 

 two-thirds of the people eat fish. All the Tehsildars consider the quantity 

 has been much below the average for the last few years, but that, owing 

 to the abundant rain-fall in 1871, it is recovering again. Very small 

 fish are trapped in quantities during the rains : they are also poisoned. 

 In the Azimgurh Collectorate, six Tehsildars report as follows : — there are 

 about 4,295 fishermen, all of whom appear to have other occupations also. 

 In four of the tehsils the supply of fish in the markets is said to be 

 sufficient, in the other two not to be so; 80 per cent, of the population 

 may eat fish, but only from five to ten per cent, do so. The amount in 

 the waters is given as stationary by three, and "increased last year" by 

 floods in three ; previous to which the Tehsildar of Nizamabad states 

 " the number had somewhat diminished." Very small fish are taken in 

 numbers during the rains, by weirs and other fixed engines ; nets with very 

 minute meshes are reported to be employed. Five who have answered 

 state that the fish are trapped in irrigated fields during the rains. The 

 same sorts of nets and traps are employed as adverted to in other districts, 

 the names, however, of some being different. 



339. In the Jhansi Division, in the Jalom Collectorate, the replies 



to the answers from Tehsildars are thus given : 

 Answers of Tehsildars in m. <• i n • c u „u „.. ~™„..„ 



J1]ansi The fishermen likewise follow other occupa- 



tions; the Calpee market alone is sufficiently 

 supplied with fish, which is not in much demand, except amongst the 

 lower orders; "impossible to say if fish have increased, decreased, or 

 remained stationary of late years : there are no statistics on the subject." 

 Very small fish are taken during the rains in irrigated fields and 

 elsewhere. 



340. In the Allahabad Division, and Ba nda Collectorate, "the 



information gleaned from the Tehsildars and 



the R Silrbad N DivSon ffiCialS " others is as follows : there are about 2,000 



fishermen in the district, but they, almost with- 

 out exception, pursue other occupations. The fishing castes are Kahars, 

 Kewuts, Passies and Ghags." Two bazars are plentifully supplied during 

 the rainy season ; more might be sold at other seasons if obtainable. 

 About 50 per cent, of the people of the district have no objection to 

 eating fish when they can procure it. Some report a decrease in the 

 amount in the waters — none an increase : large quantities of little ones 

 are taken during the rains ; the smallest mesh employed is £ th of an inch 

 between the knots, but even cloths are used. Weirs, and stake-nets 



m 



