xlix 



f-ioiis reasons, wliilst ilie Kolis eat both. The turtles or tortoises are put into 

 wells where tlioy eat up any riiMiish that may fall iii,an(lkee|)(lo\vn the crabs, 

 who are g'rcat enemies of all masonry work. Although only (Jovernmcnt 

 riglits ill respect to the fisheries exist, there is half an exception in the 

 case of so-eallcd sacred fisli at Wozre Talooka, Indapoor. A similar case 

 is at Wozer in the Joonero Talooka, a village belonging in Dewusthan 

 Inam to a temple of CJunp\iti. The inhabitants objected to any ]iersons 

 catcliing (ish in their pool of the Kookrce river, ami first brought false 

 accusations against the Jooncre fishermen of poisoning the water. After- 

 wards they said that the Joonere ]\Iussnlmen who came to fish insulted 

 the women drawing water. On a personal investigation, it came out 

 that " these fish are fed in honour of our god, and we do not like their being 

 killed." At Chinehwad, where the village on one side belongs to the 

 god who docs not even pay joodee, and the other shore is his inam 

 garden, the Karbharee stated the god claimed no proprietary right in 

 the fish fed from the temple steps. The existence, however, of a 

 few sanctuaries is probably useful to the fisheries. The First Assistant 

 Collector of Puna (April lOth, 1872) remarked that there is a strong 

 Brahmin clement in the district, which is sufiicient to deter fishermen 

 from laying their trade in many places. When, however, tliey are not 

 interfered with, they catch fish in all seasons by every means in their 

 power, chiefly by netting, sometimes by poison, and less frequently Ijy 

 baited hooks. In the large rivers fishing cannot be carried on during 

 heavy floods, and throughout the year the jiricstly influence, aliove noted, 

 greatly protects the fish. Breeding and very young ones are caught to 

 some extent, whilst, on the subsidence of the floods, bag nets and baskets 

 are placed in openings constructed in artificial dams which are roughly 

 thrown across streams. During the rainless season, the large deep pools, 

 which aboiuid in the rivers, are netted. These rivers cannot be said to 

 be perennial, so far as the fish are concerned, for in many places the 

 stream that flows during the hot weather is so slender as to be useless 

 for them, and occasionally merely oozes through the gravelly bed of the 

 river. No size of the mesh of nets is disallowed ; the minim\im size 

 obtained is -j^'jjthof an inch between knot and knot (sample enclosed). As 

 regards the ajtpropriate regulation-size for the mesh of nets, it should 

 not be less than half an inch between knot and knot for bag nets, and one 

 inch for drag nets, lie olyecls to prohibiting the sale of the fry of fish 

 in the bazar at first, but would rely upon regulating the size of the 

 mesh of tlie nets. 



101. The Collector of Tanna reported (August 12th, 1871) that no 



large fresh-water rivers exist in his district, all 

 Tnnni"''°" "^ "'" ^°"''''"" °^ of that description being large streams formed 



as natural outlets for the rainfall flowing 

 from the Ghats and high lands. During the monsoon months these 

 rivers arc fidl, the body of water flowing down these otitlets towards the 

 sea with great force. During the dry weather the beds of these rivers are 

 dry, excejiting where large and deep readies exist. Here fish are found, 

 and fishing is resorted toby the various villagers dwelling in the vicinity; ~ 

 in hardly any instance, however, have they any right in such fisheries, 

 other than that of a prescriptive one. At Callian there is a place into 

 wliich fresh water pours during the raius. The right of fishing is held 



d 



