clxix 



takiitcr f^lic Tiiniiiri as an insiiuicp, and I could adduce more, it possesses 

 tlic Okia one l)el()\v Dollii, and tlio Karra one higlicr iij) for tlic lOaslerii 

 Jumna canal, and a third (or the Western. If fishing ones arc alluded to, 

 I would refer to the re]iorts of ofTicers in the hill ranges, and fishing-weirs 

 arc more numerous in many rivers than here stated. That these weirs can 

 do but little harm, I also refer to the reports from local officers who have 

 watched their effects. ]\ty personal opinion is in accordance with that 

 of the Britisli law, that fisliiiii^'-wcirs arc a, public nuisance. "J The Col- 

 lector of Jompnr (20th March 1872) observed : — "This district is traversed 

 by the Goomtee and Sair, and it is from these rivers chiefly that the 

 supply of fish is drawn." " The supply of fish rarely exceeds the demand, 

 and often, especially in the dry season, falls far short of it." " Fishermen 

 assert that of late years the supply of fish has decreased." "The cost of 

 fish has undoubtedly increased." The breeding season is that " when 

 most (isli are taken; both breeding and very young ones are captured 

 without limit or reserve in the streams, and during the rains in the 

 open fields." Tanks are stocked with fry obtained at this period. A 

 close season might be imposed, aiul the months of Jeth and Asarh 

 would be the most ap|>ropriatc. Tlie Officio/iur/ Collector of Ftittehpur 

 (March 22nd, 1872) reported that breeding-fish and very small ones 

 are caught to a great extent, by nets and heoks, iuj/nls, tanks and 

 livers during the rains; the smallest size mesli of the nets being 

 almost i of an inch ; no regular fishing class exists. The Collector 

 of Allahabad (April 8th, 1872) remarked that " there is no doubt 

 that destruction of fish of all sizes and at all seasons of the year takes 

 jilace, especially in the Ganges and Jumna, not only by fishermen, but 

 any persons who can get hold of a hand-net. This is particularly prac- 

 tised after a flood, wlien it is by no means uncommon to see small fry 

 being captured by traps, band-nets, &c., in the small rivulets fioni 

 wdiich they are trying to escape into the river on abatement of the 

 floods." The smallest mesh employed is snid to be \ of an inch, and 

 that there would be no difficulty in regulating it at \\ inches. Tiie chief 

 destructors of small fry are crocodiles and fish of prey. [Wlinn I 

 was at this town at the commencement of February 1870, a deficiency 

 of fish was complained of, and as I went daily to the markets, I think 

 1 may personally agree that the eomphiint was well founded. The fisher- 

 men asserted that the sup])ly had decreased of late years and the de- 

 mand increased, whilst the same views seemed to be held by the vendors 

 in the market. ' At the height of the monsoon, or the end of July and 

 the commencement of August, I wa.s likewise at the |dacc, and found 

 a varying amount of fish being brought to market, spent fish were being 

 sold, also young fry as fine as a straw, of species which attain a hundred 

 or more pounds in weight. Thousands of young fish were being daily 

 ca|)tured, whilst the poverty of the river, as giving a sufficient supply, 

 was being coinjilained of. The cause was obvious, and the remedy is 

 as clear. J The Officiathig Collector of Ifiniipnr (Februar}' Gth, 1872) 

 replied that " breeding-fish and very j'oung ones are not destroyed to any 

 great extent in this district. What fish are taken are caught in the 

 Jumna and IJetwa Rivers, and in tanks. The smallest size of mesh em- 

 ployed is so small that a grain of gram cannot pass through it. There 

 would be little difficulty in regulating its minimum size, as there are 



