cxlviii 



327. The Secretary to the Goverument of the Nurlh-IFesL Provin- 



ces* observed : — " The wanton destvnclion of 

 Opinioii of Government of j|^|^ j^^g j^^ doiiht exist to some extent, but, in 

 N. \V. I'lovmees. ^, r- , , ri > • ■ t iii 



the Lieutenant -Uoveriiors opinion, it wouUl be 



quite impossible to check it without introducing much greater evils, such 

 as, the ojjportuuities of extortion, and their interference with the habits 

 of the people ; and the irritation that would be the result of any attempt 

 to do so would be serious. At the same time the annual recurrence of the 

 rainy season forms a sort of close season for the protection of the fish : 

 the sn|)i)ly of lish is not proved to be decreasing to any material extent, 

 and altogether His Honor considers that there is no suflicient ground 

 for any special action on the part of the legislature." 



328. The Commissioner of the Meernt Division remarked: — "I think 



it may safely be concluded that the propor- 

 Opinions of European Officials ^j^^j ^^ ^j^^ population, who live by fishing as 

 lu the Meurut Division. , n • . i ,i ,• ,. 



a trade, is not large ; the proportion ot per- 

 sons who have no other occupation than fishing as a means of livelihood 

 is small, but it is increased by others who resort to fishing at odd times, 

 probably in times when they have nothing better to do ; so far then as 

 the fishermen class is concerned, I do not think there is much to fear of 

 their efi'orts making any appreciable impression on the fish-su])ply. But 

 there is a fear that, unless the reckless system of wholesale destruction is 

 stopped, the fish-supply may become scant. There seem to be two main 

 causes which lead to this wanton destruction of fish ; the first is by I'eason 

 of the facilities aftbrded for doing so in the canals and rajbahars (irriga- 

 tion works) , and the second is the absence of any check in respect of 

 rivers." He continues that nets or gratings at the head of canals will be 

 liable to be carried away in heavy floods, so proposes fish-hulders at each 

 fall. " The main points for consideration would be(l) to prevent dam- 

 ming streams for the purpose of catching fish; (2) a limit to the size of 

 the mesh in nets ; (3) a close season, say * * from 1st July to Ist October, 

 seems to be essentially necessary, and catching fish within these dates should 

 be prohibited. The close season need not apply to every kind of iisli, but 

 to those more generally used for food; * * the limit to the size of 

 the mesh of nets would only stop the fry being caught, but the prohibi- 

 tion to damming or diverting streams would also prevent the wholesale 

 destruction which now takes place." The Commissioner of Meerut 

 reported (October 29th, 1 808) that there is no doubt that the most 

 wanton destruction of fish does take place, and that fish are disappearing 

 from the sub-streams of the Ganges and Jumna. Where 20 or 30 years 

 ago fish of 10 or 15 lbs could be caught, none are now to be seen except 

 fry, and such fry the native fishermen net and snare in every way at all 

 seasons. The Superintendent of Behra Boon stated (January 29th, 

 1872) that " l>reeding-fish are dcstroye<l in great uuinbers, and small I'ly 

 were, until lately, also largely captured. The breeding-fish are destroyed 

 in the commencement of the rains in every conceivable manner ; they 

 at that time run up small streams, and are there killed with sticks, 

 caught in nets, in baskets, in temporary cruives, by hooks fastened in 

 great numbers on to lines, and many other ways. Small fry are taken at 



• Tlieso reports were received October lOtli, 187li. 



