cxx 



killeil, but wlien there is an overflow, the stream below is often infecteil 

 tor some distance, and many of the fish killed. (Jatlle i;oniiny to driid;, 

 and human beings also, are liable to sull'er. The tisli thus killed arc 

 said to be unpleasant to the palate and unwholesome." In Damoli, after 

 the monsoon is over, nets of all sorts, with meshes to one-fourth of an inch 

 or less in width, are employed ; drag-nets are used, and split bamboo 

 weirs are constructed across favourite runs. As the streams begin 

 to dry, the ))ools are drug'y:ed with a fruit called ' Aka' pounded and 

 mixed witii Hour, llivers and tanks abound with turtles, tortoises, and 

 crocodiles, which destroy large quantities of fish. The smallest size mesh 

 of nets is g-iven at one-eighth of an inch in Mandla and Seoni, one-fourth 

 in Jabalpiir and Damoli, and so small that no fish can pass in Sagar. All 

 the Deputy Commissioners consider there would be but little dillieulty 

 iu regulating the minimum size of the mesh of nets, but the 

 one of Damoh considers discontent would be caused, not only amongst 

 the fishermen, hut the consumers, as little fish are in great demand, 

 and meet with a ready sale. The Deputy Commissioners would adojit 

 the following as the minimum size : Seoni and Damoh half an inch 

 between the knots, Mandla one inch at the base, and two inches or more 

 higher up, Sagar one-fouith of an inch in diameter for g'eneral fishing Qi 

 ))encil would almost be arrested in such a mesh], Jabali)ur one inch. The 

 general impression is, that the oidy valid objection to prohibiting the sale of 

 fry in the bazar, is the loss of income to the fishermen, and irritation amongst 

 native fish-eaters, who ordinarily belong to the lowest and least intelligent 

 class of the po))ulation. As regards fence-months, the Dej)uty Commissioner 

 of Seoni would have them from July to September inclusive, in the districts 

 of the Satpura llange, as then the greatest destruction takes place. 'J'he 

 Deputy Commissioners o£ Sagar and Jabalpiir would condemn the 

 capture of fish during the two first months of the monsoon. The Depu .y 

 Commissioners of Damoh and Mandla give no definite opinions, owing 

 to not having had any experience of the kind iu hilly districts, to whic'i 

 the (lucslion solely referred. 



200. In the NuiLuda Division, the Collector of Belul observes, that 



theie is no check to the destruction of breed- 

 Narbuda Division. Opimous ^ fl^,, ^^ f ^^,,1^1 it j j^j j 



ot tlie Collectors. .i-i ^ ii 11. 



troyed in large numbers by nets, baskets, 



and poisoning the water. .The smallest size mesh of nets employed is 

 about one-eighth of an inch square ; does not apprehend any difficulty iu 

 regulating the minimum size or prohibiting the sale of fry in the bazars. 

 The CuUeclor of Chliindwara aiiswers, that what fish are caught are captured 

 irrespective of whether breeding ones or fry ; the smallest mesh iu 

 use is about one-fourth of an inch ; there would be no difficulty in regulating 

 the minimum size [mivided there were a law, which he would propose at 

 one inch ; there would be no objection to ])rohibiting the sale of fry. Tliti 

 Collector of lloshanyatjad rejiorts, that breeding and very young fish are 

 destroyed to a great extent by means of nets, funnel-shaped baskets, 

 and poisoning pools. Ii'ry are caught in small streams and iu the shallows 

 of large rivers, especially during' June and July, by narrow-meshed nets and 

 baskets, and in stagnant water by poisoning the whole pool. The smallest 

 meshes of nets are one-eighth of an inch iu diameter; there would be no 

 dilficulty iu regulating them except iu the distant wild parts of the district, 



