xlvi 



rules have deprived them of one source of liveUhood, viz., the sale of 

 timber cut in the forest. Tlio catching' of fish by poisoning the water- 

 courses, causing- the most wholesale destruction of spawn and evcrytliing 

 else that should be spared, if put a stop to, will be a first and greal 

 step towards the preservation of fish, \vithout causing alarm to the Bhils. 

 which \Yould probably follow any more pointed measure of fish conser- 

 vancy." The Assistant Collector observes : — " In no country have inlaml 

 fisheries in small rivers ever proved of any economic or commercial im- 

 portance, except when such fisheries were protected by rights of privafi- 

 properly, special legislation, and special p(jlice, besides jiossessing the 

 advantages of markets, transport, available caj)ital, and means of pre 

 eervation. Not a single one of these advantages is possessed by llu 

 fisheries of Khandeish and llie Decean, and consequently it is very litlli 

 matter what becomes of tlum." TWithout giving any ojnnion on tlii^ 

 statement, I would point out that the native oflicials report that three- 

 fourths of the people eat fish, that there are 23,600 fishermen in tlu 

 district, and the markets are not fully supplied. 3 The Assistant Collecloi 

 contin\ies, "in the case of large rivers like the Tapti and Nerbadda, tin 

 fish will take care of themselves against any onslaught likely to bi 

 made by the miserable Bhils (professional fishermen) of this generation 

 and jierhajjs the next will be riper for protective legislation. If, however 

 Government are bent on protecting the fish, two courses are ojien ti 

 them ; either to apply the Survey Act to water as well as to land, giving' 

 out the tenures as far as possible to those now employed in the fisheries 

 and thus at one stroke rendering all fisheries in the country jirivati 

 property, and apjdying' the most powerful stimulus to im])rovomenl 

 known to economists; or else to give the District Officers power to call 

 the fishermen together, and frame rules for the fisheries separateb 

 after the practice obtaining in Ireland, and I believe in Scotland and 

 England." [This is all a mistake.! " Disobedience to rules so framed 

 might be made punishable by fine and forfeiture of the instrument.' 

 and fish." 



97. The Acting E.vtra First Assistant Collector in charge of flu 



Punch Mahals reported, on May Cth, 1871 

 • Opinions of European officiuls ^j^.^^ fisheries exist in the district, a: 



in the I'uncb Mahals. , , , . , i -« r i 



tliere are no large rivers except the Myhee 



which runs on the western frontier, and only touches two or three 

 villages. In these there are no fishermen who earn a living by catch 

 ing fish, and the few who reside there generally catch them more 

 for home consumption than for sale. The tank at Godra contain, 

 fish of small size. Government in connection with fishing- has nevui 

 exercised any restriction, because, owing to the demand being limited 

 they are only taken to a small extent, and not for trade. In tli^ 

 villages of NVullulipur and Waree, which are on the banks of the INIyhec 

 and are talookdaree villages, the Thakoos who are jiroprietors of them 

 receive a third share of the fish cauglit within those limits. The Exir, 

 First Assistant observed (March 11th, 1872) that the district produce 

 few fish or fishermen. There is no fish market whatever, and the ver\ 

 small number of mud-flavoured, worthless fish caught iu the tank 

 and half-dry rivers of the country are really not worth being reports 

 ou. 



