clxxxiii 



made to pass over or through fine reeds or strong- nets, the smallest 

 size of the latter which is used being- £th of an inch in diameter. No diffi- 

 culties exist in regulating the size of the mesh of nets, but there will be 

 in enforcing the regulation. No objections militate against prohibiting 

 the sale of the fry of fish in the bazars ; the local manager should be 

 made personally responsible. The Collector of Burdwan observes that 

 breeding-fish are largely captured for consumption, but do not seem to be 

 wastefully destroyed. " Very young ones of important sorts are taken 

 during the rainy season in the shoals of rivers, and are thrown into 

 tanks for preservation. They are seldom, if ever, used as an article of 

 food. This fishing gives ample occupation to a great number of fisher- 

 men in the River Bhagiruttee, the Damuda, Delkissar, and in the 

 internal rivers and channels within the district, and sometimes becomes 

 the subject of cross-rights and disputes. Breeding-fish are captured in 

 the months of April, May, and June, and the fry of important species, 

 such as ruhu (labeo), mirgah, catla, calbeinse, &c, are taken during the 

 rains with a view to their transfer to tanks, where they are reared. It 

 is generally believed that large fish cannot spawn in tanks.'" The 

 smallest size mesh of the nets would only permit a grain of mustard 

 seed to pass through, and that with difficulty, but attempting to regulate 

 such will create much discontent. " Admitting, however, they are 

 wastefully destroyed, it is obvious that these young fry are produced in 

 such multitudes as to outlive these perils in a sufficient number to arrive 

 at maturity, and by depositing their ova in time to prevent the species 

 from perishing. It is, therefore, clear that the continual waste is far less 

 than the continual re-production. [I question this, and hold a contrary 

 opinion, believing that the previous facts have not been proved, especially 

 as, were the observations here made literally correct, fish should increase, 

 whereas reports go to show that the reverse is occurring]. I would 

 allow the existing system to remain undisturbed. In the event, how- 

 ever, of the restriction to the sizes of the meshes of nets being determined 

 upon, I would fix the smallest size at ^rd of an inch. As a rule, the fry 

 of large fish are not sold in the markets as an article of food. Self- 

 interest teaches the parties not to do so, inasmuch as the fry sold for 

 rearing generally fetch 20 times as much value as when sold for food. 

 It is only when the young ones die, on being taken from one place to 

 another for transportation, that they are brought to market for sale as 

 food. The sale of fry as stock- fish cannot be well prohibited on any 

 account. £The Collector has apparently been imposed upon by some 

 interested individual in regard to the materials from which this report 

 has been drawn up. The following are his data; — (1) breeding-fish are 

 destroyed ; (2) fry are merely caught for stocking ponds, and (-'3) never 

 sold as food unless they die during transportation ; (4) whilst numerous 

 persons find occupation during the rains in capturing fry ; (1) must be 

 conceded, but that it is not wasteful may be questioned ; (2) is shown 

 not to be the case by the reply he forwards from his native subordinate, 

 who asserts that " during the rains a considerable amount of small fish 

 are trapped in the irrigated fields. * * This species of fish 



is consumed by the middle and lower classes of people, and is sold much 

 cheaper than the large fish." Fish captured in traps are rarely adapted 

 for stocking ponds with ; for this purpose they are taken in nets as I 



