rNrilODUCTiON. 



1. The lollowiiig vcpoil is lli(> icsull of investigations 

 made since 18G7, into whether a Masteful clesl ruction of the 

 fresh-Avatcr fislicries is or is not occurring in India and 

 Biu'ma. It may be said to be composed of two elements, 

 personal investigations and the resnlt of enquiries made bj' 

 European and Native civil officers in India and Burma. 



2. "WluMi personally enquiring in dilTerent districts, I 

 found that such a large amount of valuable local knowledge 

 existed that I proposed circulating a scries of questions 

 and deferring tlie compilation of the full report until answers 

 had been received. 



3. The questions (Mrculated were as folloAVS : — Fo7' Col- 

 Jeclors, (1). — Are In'eeding fish and very young ones destroyed 

 in yoiu- district to any great extent ? (2). — If they are des- 

 troyed, Iiow, in Avhat places, and at what seasons ? (3). — What 

 is the smallest size of the mesh of nets allowed or employed 

 in your district ? (4). — Wliat difficulties are there against 

 regulating the size of th«} mesh of the nets ? (5). — What size 

 between knot and knot of the meshes of nets do you con- 

 sider advisable ? (0). — What objections exist against prohi- 

 biting the sale of the fry of lish in the bazars? (7). — Are 

 there any objections against 2)rohil)iting the capture of fish 

 in hilly districts, as the Himalayas or Nilgiris, during the 

 first two months of the monsoon season ^^hen they are 

 breeding ? 



■d'. Those for Tchsihhn-fi or Natine Officials were, — 

 (1). — AVhat number of fishermen are there in yoiu" range, and 



