CXXXI 



jiours into tlie fields, but not ( I believe) in merely irrigated fields." 

 " The smallest size of the niosh of the ncis em|il()yed is aLoiit one- 

 third of an inch between knot and knot." " Fishin<r is carried on in 

 rivers from boats by casting and dragging nets, spears, lines, rods, and 

 hooks ; in village pond^ andjliils, in the months of Jeth and J?aisakh, by 

 hands, the watier being first mudded by gangs of from .50 to GO men. 

 Large fish are sometimes killed by lathis. The Talukdar of Deogam 

 states thatdraii\s full of water are sometimes enclosed on both sides, and 

 powders obtained from a poisonous wild fruit named " Bistend or 

 Kuhar" thrown in. A channel is then cut to receive fresh-water in the 

 enclosed drain, so as to save the fish from wholesale destruction. The 

 large fish get disturbed ( intoxicated or jioisoned) and float, when peo|de 

 beat them on the head with lathis or catch them with their hands." 13ut, 

 he adds, the fish taken in this manner are not good to eat. The principal 

 implements of fishing arc detailed as follows : 1, Khancha (a sort of 

 basket net); 2, Tap; 3, Mahi ; 4, Pukhai (for small fish) ; 5, Chatbri ; 

 G, Chilwar; 7, Laga ; 8, Tappura; fl, Uudhi ; 10, Kurail; 11, 

 Chutur; 12, Oanj; 13, Bhukha; It, Palni ; 15, Chitta (for large 

 fish); IG, Unghi; 17, Jhagri; 18, Lukia. 



280. The Collector of Luc/nioiv reports, " the tanks and rivers 



are netted without restriction throughout 



Coliector""' ^^'""''" "'' "'" *''° y'^''"'' '''"'^ necessaiily fish, lireeding or 



not breeding, big or small, are taken as 

 they come to the net. The preatcst destruction takes place just 

 before the end of the cold season when the tanks are drying up. 

 There is no restriction as to tlie size of the mesh of tiio nets ; the 

 smallest size employed is .about a quarter of an inch, but regulating 

 it in any locality would be objectionable until there existed a well 

 ascertained want lor the ))assing of such a measure, as all unnecessary 

 interference with the people is to be deprecated." Still, he continues, 

 one-inch regulation between knot and knot of the meshes of the 

 nets sooms to be really necessary. The objections advanced against 

 prohibiting the sale of the fry of fish ii\ the bazar are ignorance 

 of the ordinary Policemen, who, being allowed to interfere with the 

 fish-hawkers, would find in such a law a means of extortion, besides being 

 unable to discriminate between fry and adult fish. 



281. The Collector of Unas reports, very small fishes are destroyed 



during the rains, and cultivators use them 

 ^U„aa. Opiuiou of the CoUcc. ^^ manure. The smallest size of the 



mesh of nets is one-sixth of an inch ; no 

 difficulty existing regulating such, and one inch between knot and 

 knot he considers advisable. If the sale of the fry of fish in the 

 bazar is prohibited, both owners and fishermen, it is considered, will 

 suffer. 



282. The Collector of Bara Banki considers that breeding and 



young fish are not killed to an3' groat extent : 

 ^Opinion of Collector of liara ^,,y ^^,,,j^,j ^^.^ destroyed are those got in 



tanks. Three-quarters of an inch is the 

 smallest mesh of nets employed ; no difficulty exists in regulating such, 

 and he proposes three-quarters of an inch as the legal size. No fish 

 arc brought for sale in the bazars. 



