ecxiv 



MADRAS. 



(Supplementary Report). 



394. The Acting Collector of Bellary (7th September 1872) ob- 



serves — breeding-fish and fry are destroyed in 

 • 5tn of ^ropean Officials th t k fe t y t fc k tfa ^ , 



in the Bellary Collectorate- ,. , '. . , . ' J ..J 



die when the water dries up. Ihe smallest 



size of mesh in use appears to be one through which a quill can just 

 be passed : it could only be regulated in leased waters, a proceeding he 

 does not consider necessary, and as regulations are not recommended, 

 " fry will still be caught, and when caught, it must be sold/'' The Col- 

 lector (see page lxxix) stated, as regards letting the fisheries of this 

 Collectorate, that it is not probable that any persons will be found to 

 bid for them. They have been put up to auction this year and realized 

 672 rupees. The Sub-Collector contradicts all the others who assert 

 breeding-fish and young ones are destroyed, but gives the minimum 

 size of the mesh of nets at T \>th or ^th of an inch ; replies ■ s to what 

 difficulties there are against regulating it — " none much. The Police 

 would be always able to get fish for nothing, by the threat of charging 

 fishermen with fishing with an improper net." Prohibiting the sale 

 of fry in the bazars would be useless, as they would be sold just as 

 much, though more privately ; whilst were a close season declared for 

 two months during the monsoon in hilly districts, such might " cause 

 the wild tribes to starve during the breeding season." The Head 

 Assistant Collector replies — all fish are caught irrespective of their size 

 and condition : by nets and basket-traps chiefly, and in the tanks 

 when the waters are low. The minimum mesh in use is given at 

 probably ^ an inch in diameter, and as to regulating such, " it will be 

 as easy a matter as the prohibition of illicit arrack-stills, and I do not 

 think that much hardship would ensue :" one inch between the knots 

 of each mesh is proposed. 



395. The Acting Collector of Trichinopoly reports (10th August 



1872) that fishermen spare no fish, however 



lectoro? THchino P oly. ting ° " sma11 > a tremendous destruction takes place 



below the irrigation weirs where their ascent 

 is arrested, and in the pools of the river as they subside, also in tanks 

 that are rented out. One-eighth of an inch is given as the smallest size 

 mesh employed, which ought to be regulated as tending to increase the 

 fish population, and thus secure a good supply to the market ; five inches 

 in circumference is proposed. 



396. The Acting Collector of the Kistna (29th August 1872) 



^ . . „ _ _„ . , observes that fish are caught wherever found, 



Opinion of European Officials 3 • •, , ° , , ,. 



in the Kistna District. and in evei T possible way j hence breeding 



ones and fry can hardly escape. The smallest 

 mesh will hardly permit a grain of red gram to pass, but great difficul- 

 ties would exist in regulating it, or prohibiting the sale of the fry 



