( 3 ) 



that, the statement matte by Sir A. Cotton, logoihcr ivith tlie 

 sironf? a priori arguments that may be adduced, render it in 

 tlie highest degree prol)able tliat the efTcets of anicuts or 

 AA'cirs across large rivers leads to a rapid destruction of many 

 Icinds of llsli, Avhich may ultimately lead to their extermi- 

 nation, not only by interfering with their spawning in their 

 accustomed localities, but by leading to their accumulating 

 in large numbers below the weirs, wliere they are not only 

 captured in large quantities by man, but are cxjiosed in an 

 increased degree to tlie attacks of crocodiles and predaceous 

 fishes." Dr. Jerdon (0th November 18G7) observed on 

 " the necessity for adopting some restrictive measures for pre- 

 venting the wholesale destruction of large fresh-water fish, such 

 as the mahascer, during tlie spawning season." Mr. Grofc, 

 Senior Member of the Board of lleveniie. Lower JProvinces 

 (15th March 1808), considered — "veiy little is known of the 

 habits of Indian fish." " It may be found advisable to 

 legislate for regulating the exercise of the public right of 

 fisliing in all our navigable rivers. As yet we have been 

 unsuccessful in our endeavours to curtail that riujlit, or to 

 enforce the claim of Government to levy a tax from those who 

 have been in the habit of exercising it." Colonel Strachcij, 

 litspeefor General of Irrigation ^/''or/-.? (23rd June 18G8), pro- 

 pounded the following enquiries: — "What are tlic fish which 

 constitute a practically iiujiortant portion of the food of the 

 people ? Of those fish, which are those which migrate for the 

 ])urpose of depositing tlieir spawn ? Amongst the migratory 

 lish, what are those which live entirely in the fresh- waters, 

 and what are those which pass from the sea or brackish 

 ■waters into the fresh river waters ? What are the precise 

 habits of each of these classes of fishes, as to their migrations, 

 both in respect to their extent up the rivers and the season 

 at which they occur ? And what is the season at which the 

 young brood of fisli is develo))ed, and when do they descend 

 the rivers ? W^ith such knowledge, we should be in a position 

 to form an opinion of some practical value on the question 

 that has been put." I now propose taking up all these and 

 some other questions in detnil, before entering upon tiic 

 result of the investigations which have been made by others 

 as well as by myself. 



IV. The fresh-water fisheries of India and Burma 



wi.eie frcsh-watcr fisheries cxtcud from a sca levcl to almost 



exist. every place in which water exists in 



any quantityj even to high up amongst the hill ranges. 



