xxxvu 



Thus, out of 32 returns, 10 reporters give the minimum size of the 

 mesh of tlie nets to be that of a grain of gram or wheat or less, whilst 

 II' more state it to be one-third of an inch or less between knot and 

 knot of the meshes, and two below one inch. But if the reports of 

 those who assert that about an inch, or less than one, exists between 

 knot and knot of the meshes are examined, one must be led to the 

 conclusion thirt- some error lias occurred, as they state that very small 

 fish are captured during the rains. In many places where the (ish are so 

 minute, that a net however small cannot capture ihcm, a cloth is 

 cmj)loyed, and, as one official observed, this may bo said to have no mcs!) 

 at all. Consequently, if any fry do escape, it must not be attributed 

 lo tlie will of the fishermen, but rather to their inability to capture 

 them. 



69. Trapping fish is carried out in various ways, but the most 



common one appears to be Ity wicker cages 

 Breeding and young fish resembling rat traps, into whicli a fi.sh having 

 trapped in various forms of e„(^c,.^j (.„„„ot obtain exit from. These arc 

 crui vcs 



made of such a fine texture, that the most 

 minute cannot escnj)e through the interstices of tlie various ]iieccs of 

 wicker work of which they are formed ; even fry are taken in them. 

 The course of streams is also sometimes diverted so that all the water 

 has to pass through a wicker cage or over a wicker j)l;itf(irni, by which 

 means all the iish are captured. Bamming streams or ])oiti<iiis of tanks, 

 emptying out the water and thus obtaining all the contained fish, is also 

 carried on. On a dam being raised, an artificial opening is cut in it, 

 and a wicker cage or an apjiaratus of bamboo and net is made use of, to 

 take all the fish which are carried down in the current with the escajiing 

 ^vatcr. 



70. Poisoning fish does not seem to be unknown in the Bombay 



Presidency. It is reported in Khandeisli 

 Waters are poisoned to ob- l,y mcaus of hinganbet, yjlthil, gir, and 



tol-ate^s''' '" """° °'' ""^ ^°"''"" *''''"■; '" ^"^''^ '-y the "soopli," tobacco 



leaves, and the milk bush, as well as by the 

 fruit of the "jel phul;" in Ahmednuggur and Dhnrwar by the milk 

 bush; whilst in Nasik it is observed that this mode of taking fish used 

 to be very common, but every attempt has been made to jMit down the 

 objectionable custom. They are also rei)orted to jioison fish in the Puna 

 and Bolgaiim Collectovates, but in the CJokah Talooka, in the latter, it is 

 stated that the ])ractice has to a certain extent been stopped, owing 

 to the rules of the Forest Dejiartment, under which it is prohibited to 

 cut the small twigs and leaves from which the stujiofying drugs are 

 made. This is a destructive method of obtaining all the fish in a nearly 

 or cpiite stagnant jiool or piece of water, which, irrespective of dest^roying 

 old and young indiscriminately, cannot be supposed to obtain the 

 proceeds "in so wholesome a state, as if they had Ijeen taken by means of 

 nets. The water itself is thus sometimes rendered deleterious to human 

 beings and cattle that unwarily partake of it. 



71. There are other modes of fishing which are carried on by 



various means, as employing hooks and lines 

 Angling and line fisliioR. ^,^,^^^. g„gj,c,jj,.^i ffl poles ill thc water or 



used merely by anglers. 



