CCXXX1V 



netted. "Without interfering' with the rights of private property, 

 1 cannot suggest any measures, therefore, for the conservation of fish, 

 although I am sure that, if a considerably larger supply could be 

 obtained, it would be eagerly sought for as an article of consumption 

 throughout the district/'' As the rains subside nallas and streams are 

 bunded and emptied of water ; thus many small fish are taken ; this is 

 generally carried out from February to April inclusive. There would be 

 difficulties in carrying out any order regulating the minimum size of 

 the mesh of nets, as the only people who use nets are the Mullahs, " a very 

 poor tribe who could not pay a fine, if inflicted ; while to confiscate their 

 nets would only drive them to commit theft and robbery to keep body 

 aud soul together." Fry are not sold in the bazars ; " it would be 

 impossible to prevent the villagers catching and eating the fry them- 

 selves, if so inclined. The nature of the country is against forming 

 any hope of improving the supply of fish, so as to make it an 

 article of consumption in this district."" The Deputy Commissioner of 

 Singbkoom (August 6th, 1872) remarks that "all fish are caught 

 and disposed of indiscriminately, without letting go either the 

 breeders or the very young fish. Annually, when the rivers are at 

 their lowest depth, aud the pools are low, or in April and May, 

 crowds of persons gather to catch all the fish in these pools, and all is 

 fish that comes to the net with this district people. The tanks are about 

 this time also very low, and are treated in the same way/'' The smallest 

 mesh of the nets, " I fancy, would admit the little finger •" the diffi- 

 culties against regulating it " would be those that, in civilized society, 

 are considered and felt as interference with private actions of individuals." 

 The fry of fish are not sold in the bazars. Fish are not captured 

 during the first two months of the monsoon, but just before it : there 

 are few fishermen, and they have other occupations ; their castes are 

 Keot or Mullah, Ghooneah, Ghasi, and Dome. The local markets are not 

 fully supplied with fish ; the supply is not equal to the demand. The 

 price per seer of fish and mutton is the same : the entire district com- 

 munity eat fish : " reports state that at the annual captures, less quantity 

 is now obtained than before. A large quantity of small fish are not 

 taken during the rains ; the minimum sized mesh of the nets would 

 admit the little finger. Fish are trapped in the fields during the rains 

 with ghoogees. The modes of fishing are : (1) trapping by ghoogees, 

 polois, ghoonees, and jimrees ; (2) netting by chargoriah, geera- 

 jal, theld-jdl, and gentoi-jdl, (3) rod and line, bungsee." In a 

 second letter (August 7th, 1872), the same officer observes — "the 

 supply of fish is not equal to the demand, but the supply at the present 

 time is far greater than formerly. Fish, as a rule, is consumed when- 

 ever got, and by all classes of people. The quantity is never so much 

 as to need preserving, but, as a matter of taste, it is consumed both salted 

 and fresh. There is no fish trade to distant places from this district. 

 In a very few instances fish are privately bred and reared in tanks. I do 

 not consider that conservation of fish is of that importance as to call 

 forth any measures, or to form a question of the day in Singbhoom." 



The Deputy Commissioner of Maunbhoom (June 28th, 1872) replies 

 that the nets in use are (i) phandi ; (2) ganti (large) ; (3) ganti (small) ; 

 (4) push ; (5) donra j (G) chap ; (7) chuna. " Those numbered 3 and 7 



