CCV1 



lesser OphiocepTialas gachua was known as " Nga-yan-goun-doh," and the 

 possessor of one of these smaller species might be considered as 

 having- obtained the young- of the larger sort. It appears to be a more 

 practical plan to forbid fixed traps and nets, and poisoning water at first, 

 and then, as fish augment, to see if any regulation, affecting the minimum 

 size of the mesh of the nets which might be employed, would not be 

 feasible. Perhaps, at first, passing regulations on those used in the 

 free fisheries might be tried, prior to doing so in the rented fish farms.] 

 Major Sladen appends the names in Burmese of the following fish with 

 remarks : — " Fish which become large, but are not captured when young, 

 owing, it is said, to their keeping to the deeper portions of the rivers : — 

 'Nga-bat' [lVallago attii]; 'Nga-gyin' [Cirrhina mrigald] ; f Nga-tan' 

 \Gagata tgpus] ; 'Kah-thamyim' \Pseudeutropius taakree] ; 'Kah-thaboung' 

 [Mutropiichthys vacka] ; 'Kah-kooran :' 'Nga-ywe' [Saccobranchus fossilis] ; 

 'Nga-youug' [Arius Burmatiicus], The following fish are caught indis- 

 criminately, large and small, but they never attain to over 51bs. : — 'Nga- 

 hpannua' \_Kquula rucouius] ; 'Nga-pyema' [Anabas scandens]; 'Kah-kadit:' 

 f Nga-khoomma' \Barbu8 stigma] ; 'Nga-khoo' [Clarias magur] ; <Nga- 

 kyay' \_Datuioides polota] ; 'Nga-nuthan' \Calllchrous maeropkthalmus] ; 

 'NgaTsin-bya' [? Pellona Sladoui]; 'Nga Tsin-yeing' [Perilampus atpar].* 

 The Deputy Commissioner of the Tavoy District reports that breeding-fish 

 and very young ones are destroyed to a considerable extent, the former 

 being captured in the beginning of the rains, about May or June, when 

 they ascend the tidal streams to deposit their spawn ; they are caught by 

 damming up the stream with bamboo screens (weirs), leaving a passage 

 in the middle of the stream, where basket traps with enclosures (cruives) 

 are laid to catch them. Some also use casting-nets called koon at the 

 mouth of the streams. Large fish as well as young ones are caught in a 

 similar way during the three months, commencing in September, about 

 the close of the rainy season, but on a much larger scale by an arrange- 

 ment called isliai when all fish, large and small, descending the stream, 

 are captured. £These are the fish which have completed their spawning, 

 and the young which are attempting to pass to the deeper parts of the 

 rivers.] The smallest rnesh used is f th of an inch ; there may be some 

 difficulty in regulating it, as it may affect the capture of prawns and 

 shrimps employed for the manufacture of ngapee ; still, if the present 

 small mesh be permitted, immature fish will be taken. "The only way 

 to get over the difficulty will be by appointing fishery inspectors, whose 

 duty it will be to see that rules decided on are not evaded. These rules 

 should prescribe what nets, screens (weirs), and traps (cruives), are legal, 

 and in what month and in what places they may be used. To issue 

 orders without informing them will be useless : every one, from the 

 < Thoogyee , (fishery lessee) downwards, is too much interested ia obtaining 

 the fish to care about the way in which they are caught/'' Would per- 

 mit the meshes to be, as at present in use, under proper restrictions. 

 " The capture of fish in streams should be prohibited during May and June, 

 when the fish ascend the streams for spawning, and again during three 

 mouths from September, when they descend to the river with the fry ; 



* The scientific names have been added by myself from information I obtaiued iu 

 Burma, but I have uot received specimens of the above, so souie errors may exist. 



