2IO Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. XXII, 



By this elaborate arrangement all the fish crossing the dam near 

 the surface are trapped. 



The third dam is built about twenty yards still further down 

 and is designed for the capture of bottom-fish which pass the 

 second dam through the boat channel. It is only about a foot or 

 so high from the bottom of the stream and is built across the 

 whole of its breadth. Above the surface of the water the only 

 traces of this dam are three pairs of strong bamboo poles firmly 

 fixed in the ground ; a pair is placed in the centre of the stream 

 and one on each side of it near the bank. To the dam itself a 

 series of spindle-shaped traps is attached. The Kalio-ruh is a 

 spindle-shaped trap pointed anteriorly, and having an opening at 

 the posterior broader end ; this opening is plugged when the trap 

 is laid. The entrance into the trap is on the under surface and 

 consists of a conical tube made of bamboo splints ; at the inner 

 end these splints are sharply pointed so that a fish once it has 

 passed into the trap is unable to get out again. The arrangement 

 tor keeping the trap in position is illustrated on plate xii, fig. 7. 

 For this purpose strong bamboo pegs (aiii'tng) about 46 cm. in 

 length are employed. Kach is made by doubling a length of 

 bamboo on itself and thus possesses a loop at its upper end. One 

 peg is thrust into the dam on each side of the trap and the two 

 are lashed together by grass which is passed through the loops. 

 Each trap is also secured by a length of bamboo with pointed ends 

 which is bent over the trap and driven into the ground on either 

 side. The double peg thus formed by the length of bamboo is 

 called chikap. Under the chikap and all around it tufts of grass 

 are woven in order to give the whole arrangement the appearance 

 of an impassable barrier. 



After every four or five hours the traps are taken out and 

 emptied of their contents which frequently consist of a very large 

 number of fish. The method oE taking out the trap is rather pe- 

 culiar. A long bamboo pole is thrown across the stream and is 

 held in position by two of the three pairs of bamboo poles al- 

 ready mentioned. A rope is now tied to a boat and is passed 

 along the horizontal bamboo pole. A man dives, releases the 

 chikap on one side and brings out in turn the kalio-ruh in this re- 

 gion and passes them on to another man in the boat, who empties 

 them of their contents by removing the plug at the broader end 

 of each. When all the fish are jerked out the plug is replaced and 

 the trap again set in position. This is a very successful and 

 elaborate method and maunds of fish are daily trapped in this 



wav. 



They^rto (pi. xii, fig. 1) is another kind of trap used in shallow 

 streams. It is stuffed with grass and dry sticks and tied to a 

 bamboo peg driven into the bank. Fish seeking shelter get 

 amongst the grass and sticks and remain there. The trap is al- 

 lowed to remain in the water for two to three days and is then 

 rapidly dragged out. The fish are unable to free themselves quick- 

 ly and are thus easily secured. 



