xliv 



would 1)0 no (linieulty in regulating- its size for tlie future, beyond the 

 liiujudiccs of the lishing' eoninuinities, who have never been subjected to 

 any restrietions in the exereise of their calling'. There would be no ob- 

 jection to jn-ohibit the sale of the fry of fish in the bazars. Tlie First 

 Asuhtant Collector reported that at Ahmode there are difl'erent ways oi' 

 catching fish : — (1) — By a net termed nadi by the Bhoees, and bhandar 

 by the Wagris ; it is fixed across the stream, shaped like a wall, and 

 strengthened at intervals by stakes; tiiese stakes are not stuck into the 

 ground, but tightened by a couple of ropes at either end; it is sometimes 

 dragged by these roi)es along the river. Another very similar one has a 

 l)ag' in the middle ; it is termed soopra-jhal by the Bhoees and beheri 

 by the Wagris. The ordinary cast-net is called hath-jhal by both 

 castes. 



94.. The Acling Collector of Kaira (February 7th, 1872) reported 



... „ , „ ^ that the rivers in which fresh-water fisheries 



ciuls iu the Kuini Collectoiute. ^xist, are the Mhye, Wat ruck, Sheree, and 



INIeshwa. The majority of the population 

 being- vegetarians, the prineijial fish trade is with Baroda, and mostly 

 confined to marine fish which are taken in the tidal waters. The Akh'isI- 

 aiit Collector observed, a certain (piautity of fry are destroyed, but the 

 supply exceeds the demand. The fishermen claim no exclusive right to the 

 fisheries, and would easily submit to any restrictions imposed by Govern- 

 ment iu the way of a " fence season," &c., and such would be no hardship 

 to them. He continued that he is disposed to think that such roslriction.s 

 would prove of little or no benefit to any one, and are therefore not desir- 

 able. Moreover, he is of opinion "that until Wxa (jenend principles i.t\ 

 interference in the fisheries of this country are settled, it woidd be 

 premature to harass the fishermen by encpiiries into the size of the mesh 

 now used in their nets." " ]My own opinion is, tliat we know too little 

 as yet of the habits of the fresh-water fishes of India to devise any 

 scheme of interference which would be practically operative, * * 



it is necessary to ascertain in ivhat months the fish of particular dis- 

 tricts spawn," and this, he continued, he is unable to ascertain, so is 

 opposed to fence-months. 



05. 'Hw Collector of Sural reported (INfay 25th, 1871) that there 



_ . . . , „ are no reiiidar fresh-water fisheries in his 



ciftls ill the Surut Collcctorutc. zill:i, i'sh bemg captm-cd m most of the rivers 



running- through the talookas, and also in 

 some of the larger tanks. The amount of fish taken is stated to be incon- 

 siderable, Dooblas and other Kallipnruf people of the low aboriginal castes 

 being the chief fishers ; but they do not confine their operations to any 

 jiarticnlar part of the river, nor do they fish for trade purjioscs. 

 " jMachces" (fishermen by caste) fish generally for retail sale. Govern- 

 ment derive no rent or revenue, as also there are no private rights. Sidj- 

 Be<iuently (INIarch 12th, 1872), whilst forwarding the opinions of the 

 Assistant Collectors, he observed that they contained all the information 

 which he had on the subject owing to want of local experience. The 

 tiecrelurij to the Sural Muuicipalilij stated that between Variov and the 

 camp tliere is so little fishing carried on that he is unable to say whether 

 biccding fish or fry are destroyed, but judging- from those brought to the 

 markets, he considers the}' are not. The size of the mesh of the }>iawn nets 



