xlvii 



98. The Collector of iVd^JA reported (June 14th, 1871) tliat there 

 are no org'anized fisheries in tlie (Jollectorate, 

 _ Opinions of European officials |i,(„^^^ ^hnost cvcry river is more or less 

 in the Nasik Collectortite. ». i i i .i -n • i- •. i i 



hsned oy the villnjjors rcsulnig on its banks. 



The principal fishermen are tlie Bhils and Kohs, and also tlie Bhoees, 

 and they tisli principally for the jiurpose of providing food for home 

 consiim]ition, but not for sale. In the Godavcri, there are in sonic of the 

 pools vast numhers of fish. Although there are no defined rights as reg'ards 

 fisheries, the people of villages look upon the fishing places adjoining 

 their domiciles as belonging to them, not to the exclusion of fisiiing on 

 behalf of Government, but as against any other villngcrs with large nets 

 fishing within their boundaries. Indeed in some places thcj^ object to 

 even a small net Ijeing thrown by any stranger. In a later report 

 (April 10th, 1872) the Collector observed that breeding and very 

 young ones are destroyed to a great extent. Fish are caught all the 

 year round, and little or no regard is paid to breeding seasons, nor are 

 any, however small, ever returned to the water. 'Ihey are destroyed in 

 the pools in rivers and in tanks by means of large drag-nets. lie observes 

 that he has seen a net of nearly one hundred yards long, used for the purpose 

 of dragging a large ]iool in tlie river Godavcri ; after it had I)ccn stretched 

 across this river, one end was gradually taken round, thus enclosing a 

 considerable space. While the dragging was going on, many (Ish com- 

 menced jumping over the net, when men with smaller nets placed behind 

 the larger one, caught them as they jumped. Cart-loads were taken in 

 tliis trial, and of many kinds. Smaller nets are more numerous than 

 drag ones, especially cast, purse and other varieties. Fish are also caught 

 in shallows, small pools, and imgating channels, b}' nets, baskets, or 

 funnel-shaped wicker traps placed where there is a current of water. 

 Poisoning used to be very common, but every attempt has been made to 

 put down this objectionable custom. But there are many other ways of 

 catching fish. Bhils fish in the following manner : — At every six or eight 

 feet of a long rope, a piece of the stalk of kurbi or jowaree is tied. The 

 rope is then stretched across the river, the men holding it going u|) stream, 

 and three or four others coming after the rope beating the water. The 

 fish take refuge under the river's banks, whilst other Bliils catch them 

 with their hands. These fish are generally under two inches in length. 

 Dams are also used in shallow waters, and the places so enclosed are dragged 

 with cloths or b.alcd out, and .nil the fish taken. The meshes of some of 

 the nets are very sm.all, as any are permitted, Government never having 

 attempted to frame any rules or to interfere in any way. There would be 

 considerable difTiculties in regulating the size of the mesh of nets : frsf, it 

 would be unpopular with a large class who gain their livelihood by catch- 

 ing small fish, and no one would interfere to prevent breaches of the law; 

 seciindli/, there arc so many out-of-the-way places that it would be difi^icult 

 to enforce any order if issued. The sale of fry might lie prohibited, 

 and this would be effective as regards bazars in large towns, but not in 

 the majority of the villages. No objection exists to prohibiting the cap- 

 ture of fish in the hilly districts during the first two months of tlie 

 monsoon, when they ascend there for breeding purposes, execejit that such 

 an order could not be enforced. The Bhils and others would endeavour to 

 evade it, and there would be no way in the hills to compel obedience. 



