clxxviii 



spanning streams exist; netting- and spearing* are also employed. In 

 the Falterpur Collectorate, the Tehsildars report that there are no regular 

 fishermen, but labourers, when at leisure, employ themselves at it ; the 

 markets are not fully supplied with fish : about two-thirds of the popula- 

 tion eat it. During the last two years, and due to heavy rains, the fish 

 have increased ; large quantities of small ones are taken in the monsoon 

 months, the minimum size of the mesh of nets being |rd of an inch. In the 

 Hurripur Collectorate, the Tehsildars reply that there are no persons who 

 make fishing their sole trade ; the local markets are seldom supplied with 

 fish ; more could undoubtedly be sold ; the proportion of people who eat it 

 • f is small on account of deficient supply, but with the exception of 

 Brahmins, Banias and some Thakoors, all others are not prohibited by 

 caste from eating fish." The amount in the waters has continued 

 stationary of late years ; small ones are taken in any quantity during the 

 rains, but are not trapped in irrigated fields. 



341. In the Agra Division, and the Etawali Collectorate, the Tehsil- 

 dars report that there may be 10,000 persons 



ftT3£ DiSl e " who more or less regularly catch fish when 



they have an opportunity : they are Mullahs, 

 Kahars and Lodhees. Sometimes the markets are well supplied with fish ; at 

 other times they are not so : three-fourths of the people eat it. A decrease 

 of fish is reported in the Jumna, due to the irrigation works near Delhi. 

 Very small ones are captured during the rains by hands, in cloths, with 

 sticks, and by nets; they are also taken in the fields during the rains. In 

 the Agra Collectorate, the Tehsildars observe that there is no class who 

 exclusively follow the ocupation of fishermen ; there is no market for 

 fish except in Agra city ; people eat what they capture. In the Muttra 

 Collectorate, the Tehsildars report that there are 141 fishermen in the 

 district, termed " Machooa" or " Mulliah :" the first restricting themselves 

 to this calling, the latter having other occupations as well. The supply 

 is deficient in the cold season, but equals the demand in the hot weather, 

 especially just after the rains. It is eaten by but few of the people " who, 

 in this district, are, as a general rule, bigotted Hindus; the greater portion 

 are either forbidden to eat fish, or, though permitted by their caste rules 

 to do so, refrain from such diet through regard to the prejudices of the 

 majority of their neighbours. In Brindabun, where veiy large numbers 

 of Bengalees congregate, who are notoriously fish-eaters, they to such 

 an extent give up the diet that, as far as I can discover, no fish is sold 

 there, openly at all events. Out of the whole population of the district, 

 perhaps one-fifth are permitted to eat fish; the rest are prohibited.'" 

 The supply in the waters is said to remain stationary. Small fish are 

 taken during the rains, the smallest mesh of the nets being given as 

 " about the length of a barleycorn." 



