XXV 



l)y haiul-nets, Uie minimum size of the meslics being' | of an inch 

 between the knots. Fish are also trapped in the irrigated (ields during 

 periods of inundation. The modes of fishing' are, by large and small nets, 

 baskets, traps, spears and rods. ' Mahajal' or drag-nets are worked by 

 several persons, who drag it as much ns a mile to where another net has 

 been previously kept stretched across the river which is weighted below, 

 and floated above by buiuUes of grass. ' Goodur jal' is fastened at the 

 moulh of a pool or stream as a purse net. ' Vecra jal,' or hand-net, is 

 like a 'giighra' having iron rings all round the lower end, it is thrown 

 by hand, and then gently pulled out of the water. ' Kooncha' or 

 ' koorlee' is made of reed or bamboo in the shape of a cone with the two 

 ends o]icn, this is jammed down in shallow water, and the fish removed 

 by the hand from the upjier end. Spearing is ]nirsued during the winter 

 months when the fish are loss active and the water still, the fisherman 

 rows about in a small boat from which he uses his spear. ' Chip' is made 

 in the shape of a chick, it is pl.iced over the mouth of an outlet of a 

 pool, the fish finding an obstruction there, fall back into a hole which 

 had been previously dug on the side of the outlet, and are there taken 

 by the hand. The Tehsildar of Shakergarh reports, that there are 

 I 04 fishermen who pursue other callings as well ; the supply of fish in 

 the towns is scanty, but they arc generally sold in the villagrs to a large 

 extent or rather exchanged for grain, when the latter article is cheap it 

 obtains double weight, when dear equal proportions. Half the population 

 eat fish, the supply of which has increased during the ])ast year. Small 

 ones are taken during the rains by nets and sheets : the minimum size of 

 the mesh of the former is given at 1 inch between each knot. Fish are 

 also trapped during the rains in the irrigated fields. Tlie Tehsildar of 

 Baiala re])lies, that 23 licenses have been granted to fishermen (Jhoe- 

 wurs) during the year ; besides these there are several j)ers()ns who take 

 fish as well as follow other occupations. The su])ply in the 

 market is sufiicient; one-third of the population eat it, but its amount 

 has lately decreased owing to deficiency of rain, whilst the mini- 

 mum size of the mesh of the nets is 5 of an inch between each knot. 

 The Tehsildar of Pitlhankot rejiorts, that there are 130 fishermen in his 

 range, they also work as laborers. Tbe supply in the bnzais is equal to 

 the demand ; three-fourths of the people eat fish, the amount of which has 

 remained stationary duiing the ])ast few years. Small ones are taken to a 

 great extent during the rains, but none are trapped in the irrigated fields. 

 40. In the Amhala Division the sir Tehsildars report as follows : that 

 there are 357 fishermen divided thus : Ambala 

 Amhala Divh)on.—\x-\s\\'en 30, Jagadri Irrigation Canal 75, Haossur 

 of the TelisildarB of Aml.ala, gp^ Rharar 28, NAriiyangarh 94, Pipii 100, all 

 J.iKnuri, KiiosRiir, iviia-rtir, . n ■^^ i\ i* tj.i 



N4r4yangarh, I'ipli. of whom follow ottier o3cupations. In tlie 



first live tebsils the markets are not full}' sup- 

 jilicd ; in the last they are said to be so. The following are the propor- 

 tions of the poiiulation who eat fish : Ambala one-fifth; Jagadri two-thirds; 

 llaossur one-fourth ; Kharar two-thirds ; Nardyangarh only the ]\Iaho- 

 medans, and the Kutrecs and Kyuts amongst the Hindus; whilst in Tipli 

 very few do so. They have decreased in telisils Nos. 1, 3, 4, increased in 

 Nos. 2 and 0, but remained stationary in No. 5. Small fish and those in 

 irrigated fields are not destroyed during the rains in Ambala and llaossur. 



