E E P Pv T 



ON TIIR 



FRKSII-WATKR FISHERIES OF Tlli'] IiNDIAN EMPIRE. 



I. In August 18G7, tlic Secretary of Slate for India, 

 in a despatch to the " Madras Govern- 



Oncm niKl progress of tlm ijit j_ij.i- jv l- i 



pv,.sonton.ini,.vi.,i.. ti,c stMh. of mciit, du'cctcd thcu' attcutioii to a 

 iiosi.-H.itci- nshoiics of the In- coinmuuicatiou from Sir Arthur 

 ''"'"' ' Cotton, wherein he had stated he 



"should suppose tliat the injury to the coast fisheries must 

 be very great, now that seven of tlie principal rivers on 

 the East Coast" are barred by irrigation works that had been 

 constructed. On 27th May 18G8, I received instructions to 

 proceed to the anicuts or weirs in the Madras Presidency, in 

 order to obtain more specific information than had up to that 

 period been received. Eirst, the districts to the south of 

 ^ladras were inspected,* subsequently those to the north. t 

 Having been directed to continue these enquiries, I went next 

 i,o Orissa and Lower Bengal, | afterwards to British Burma, § 

 and at the end of 18G9 the Andaman Islands. || Being 

 compelled to proceed to Europe on sick leave in March of 

 187(), due to an accident received during these investigations, 

 I availed myself of the o))portuuity of visiting a number of the 

 fish ladders existing in England, returning at the end of tho 

 year to India. At the commencement of 1871 these en- 

 ([uirics were resumed; first, tho North- Western Provinces^ 

 and the Panjab** were inspected. On September 17th a brief 

 synopsis of the result of tlie enquiries already made was drawn 

 up, and a set of definite questions submitted for promul- 

 gation to all European and Native officials in India and 

 Bunna, from which a considerable amount of tiic following 



* P.oport, to llic Mailriis GovcinnicMit. 



t Koports (lilted 17Ui November 18(3S niul Itli Fclirnaiy 18G9. 



t Jieport, 8tli Rlnich 1869. 



§ IJepoit on Frrsli-vvnter Fisheries nnd nnotlier on tlio Son Fishcriea, ISnO. 



II Itepoit, dated February 1870. t Itepoit, dated July. •» Itei'Oit, dated J.ily. 



