The shrimp-fishing seasons in India are determined by such 

 factors as monsoons, floods, and the natural movement of the shrimp. In 

 the Bombay area, following the onset of the monsoon, the salinity and 

 ternperature of coastal waters fall to low levels. This induces the shrijnp 

 to migrate to the coast from deeper waters. The peak in shrimp production 

 in India is in the months of April and May, as the following monthly catch 

 data for 195U indicate (based on samplings by the Central Government of 

 India presented to the FAO) ; 



Total 



3iiO,007 



Shallow-v;ater trawling and seining 



The crude boats generally used for inshore operations are re- 

 garded as inadequate, and several improvements have been suggested. Some 

 success has been obtained by using "pablo" boats (designed by FAO naval 

 architects) with 10-horsepower engines which have operated on an experi- 

 mental basis in south coast waters under the supervision of an FAO fishery 

 engineer from Iceland, Boats pro\Aided under the terms of the Indo-American 

 Technical Assistance Program have been used in waters as deep as 20 fathoms. 

 The boat seine is the commonest type of net used in commercial fishing in 

 the sea along both the southwest and southeast coasts. The net usually 

 has a baglike section and two wings which project forward. Two dugout 

 canoes or catamarans are used in its operation. 



Tidewater fishing 



In the Gulf of Kutch, a small canoelike sailing boat is used 

 for shrimp fishing. This boat is of less than 2 tons' displacement, flat 

 bottomed, 18 to 22 feet long, and 3 to ii feet wide. The boat is suitable 

 for fishing during low tide, when it may be hauled in very shallow water. 

 The net commonly used for shrimp fishing in this area is a small funnel- 

 like bag about lU feet long and 3 feet deep. The nets are distended and 

 kept in position in shallow water by tying them to two poles 8 to 12 feet 

 long stuck in the bottom of a creek or other tidev;ater opening. The 

 mouth of the net is kept open by ropes, and the entire structure is fixed 

 in position at the time of the incoming tide. The shrimp collected in 

 the tail of the net are emptied into the fisherman's boat. 



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