clx 



so tliat no ]iassag'o exists for anytliiug. In midstream tlie screen 0]>ens 

 into a long- and narrow passage walled and iloorcd with tlio same 

 materials; and this terminates in a basket, named kotera, which is a 

 ham]ier made of reeds, into which a small oriliec in the side gives 

 admittance to fish beneath the snrface of the water, whilst the lid remains 

 above the surface, and is o])ened from time to time for the removal of the 

 spoil. As the water hardly finds its way through the interstices of the 

 screen, it rushes in a strong current along the passage, carrying' the fish 

 with it, and a fall from the passag-e into the basket precludes all chance 

 of escape. The months during which the greatest destruction of fry 

 and small fish takes place are Sawan, Bhadon and Kunwar. A consider- 

 able quantity is taken all over the surface of the inundated country, 

 both by means of traps, and nets, called j/ieenguree, a casting-net, and 

 eenli^dree, one which is spread over the irrigated fields, and dragged 

 along the ground. It is called eenlij/dree because it has small j)ieees of 

 bono and brick attached to it, in order to attract the notice of the fish. 

 The small size of the ordinary mesh in nets is another important feature 

 in the progress of destruction. Being- only a quarter of an inch or less 

 between the kncjts, it sull'ers very few fry to escape. The tehsildar of the 

 sudr tehsil remarks that there has been a continuous decrease in the 

 sujjply of fish in this district for the last twenty years." It is proposed — 

 (1) to regulate the minimum size of the mesh of nets; (2) that a close 

 season be instituted extending' over the breeding' period, and whilst young fry 

 are moving about; (3) that the sale of fry be, as far as possible, prohiljited ; 

 (4) that the construction of fishing dams be checked or regulated ; if 

 permitted, they should not be used during the breeding season, and never 

 constructed of such close materials as at present ; (5) that nets and 

 dams be licensed ; {(!) that re\\ards be given to informers ; (7) that the 

 destruction of spawn should bj penal ; (8) that a snuill force of peons be 

 entertained to see the regulations carried out. The Collectoi of Buslee 

 (January 13th, LS7ii) reported, — "I believe, no doubt, here as well as in 

 every other part of India, the fisheries are not used to the best advantage, 

 and that if well-considered restrictive measures were introduced, the supply 

 offish might be immensely increased." " Fish are killed, more or less, 

 throughout the year, but the largest numbers are taken towards the end of 

 the rainy season. As the waters fall, countless lakes or pools of all sizes are 

 formed on the low land by the rivers. These, which were, during the 

 floods, mere extensions of the streams, now become lakes with one narrow 

 exit to the river. Across this nets are stretched, or a weir of grass 

 constructed, and every fish that has wandered up becomes a certain prey, 

 being either caught at the weir, or left exjiosed as the waters fall. The 

 same process takes place on a smaller scale in every field that is under 

 water. The exit is closed, and countless small fish are taken. The 

 smaller streams, too, are dammed up, through their length, for irrigation 

 iiurposes; and when no more water is req\iired, a small opening is cut in 

 the dam : a basket, or most frequently a grass screen, is put in the opening, 

 which prevents the very smallest fish passing, and thus every one is 

 killed. But it is iiselcss to detail what may be seen in almost every 

 district. During the rains it appears to be an instinct with every iish 

 to ascend the stream, even when there is barely sullieient water to cover 

 them, and having thus got into danger by resorting to the shallowest 



