cxxxu 



283. The Collector o/'5;7((jUrtr says, young fish are caught, but not 



to any great uxtoiit ; thoy aro taken by dam- 



Si2m-°" "^ "" ^°"'''''°' "'" ™'"8' '» the smaller streams chain- the dry 



weather, and in irrigated iiekls during the 

 rainy season. The minimum size of the mesh of nets employed is about 

 a quarter of an inch ; no dilheulty exists in regulating its size, which 

 might be fixed at one inch, lie oi)|)oses altogether prohibiting the sale 

 of the fry of fishes, observing — " no real harm is done by catching 

 young fish in tanks, jhils, or irrigated fields, for these fish, if left alone, 

 would never find their way back to the river." Captain T/iomjison, in 

 1868, reported from this place — " fishing goes on at all seasons of the year, 

 and there can be no doubt that in the small rivers and tanks the supply 

 would be materially increased by a short ' close time.' Still I hardly 

 think that the protection is necessary in the large rivers. But the narrow 

 and shallow streams of this district can be well nigh cleared of fish with 

 the net, and the supply is scanty in consequence. In such rivers the pro- 

 tection of the spawning fish would, no doubt, have a very good efiect." 



284. The CMector of Ilardui reports, breeding and very young fish 



,, , . „ . . ,„ „ . are destroyed without discrimination and to 

 Hiirdui. Opinion of Collector. , i ^ nn i ^ ■ i 



a great extent. They are caught in nets 



and baskets in jhils, tanks, and rivers at all seasons, but in greater 



quantity during the rainy season, and especially at its close. The 



smallest size of the mesh of nets employed is one-sixtli of an inch. 



Traps are also used to collect fish of the smallest size, and are made of 



reeds. Were it politic, there would be no difficulty in regulating the 



size of the mesh of nets, but as he does not consider such a time has 



arrived, he refrains from suggesting what size of meshes he should 



consider advisable in his district. When fish are scarce in " hilly 



districts, and as well elsewhere, there appears to be no objection against 



prohibiting their capture for a limited period when they are breeiling." 



The Settlement Officer of Ilardui in 18G8 complained that there "is no 



close season for fish here ; they are caught every day of the year. 



Further, the meshes of the nets are made of any size, and occasiuiuilly 



fish are intoxicated or half-poisoned by a jungle fruit termed mainphul, 



but this can only be done in still water, ponds, and the like. Some 



land-owners preserve fish and guard them, but the bulk of the proprietary 



bodies certainly do destroy fisii wantonly. They take every fish they 



can catch at all seasons, whether the females are breeding or not, and 



whether the males are what is called 'spent fish' or are in full condition." 



285. The Collector of Ral Bareli considers the destruction of all 



... , „ sorts of fish as considerable, the princiiial 



Opinion of Collector of Rai f n t ■ i • • i.i i j. i\ 



Bm.^li season lor fishing benig m the hot weatlier 



and during the rains. In the former the 

 big fish are mostly trapped ; during the latter the smaller fish are more 

 extensively caught than at other seasons of the year. The smallest size 

 of the mesh of nets employed is from a quarter to one-third of an inch. 

 The diflTiculties in regulating the size of the mesh of the nets consists in the 

 natural dislike and prejudice of the rustic population against any innova- 

 tion whatever in the implements I'or carrying on their cralt, so he dei)iecates 

 such, and gives no opinion as to what size lie considers advisable. 

 The fry of fish, lie observes, are not sold separately from the lish in 



