clxxi 



from Mm pikI of llie rnins (o Feliiiiary or Mnrcli. TIiPv nrornnEr'il 'ils" "i 

 tlie liotr weather in favounilile iilaccs, ami in tlie raiiiw when practicaljle, 

 but tlic water is mostly too heavy then for any serious tlamag-o to breed- 

 ing-fishes. Their fry arc largely caught as the waters subside after the 

 rains. It is a common thing- to see men and boys scooping up the 

 muddy water from the drying pools in the hollows of tiieir hands, and 

 letting it run througli again, whiKst the fry remain in their palms. The 

 fry and sinnll (ish are also caught with small meshed nets, and with 

 coop-shaped basket or khanchd!^." Tiie siipj)ly is considmed to rcniain 

 the same. Fish-ladders to irrigation weirs and tanks, into wliich they 

 could retire as tlie canals arc dried, are considered the most necessary 

 mcasiu-es proposed for preserving fish. "Any cflcctive measures for re- 

 ducing the enormous numbers of crocodiles in our rivers would do much 

 more, than any restriction on fishing, to increase the quantity of fish in 

 them. The destruction of crocodiles' eggs could no doubt he extensively 

 cfTected by the offer of an adequate reward. But any such scheme, to 

 be of uso, would have to be carried out not only in these provinces, but 

 all down the lengths of the rivers which traverse them ; otherwise, so 

 fast as the crocodiles were destroyed hero, others would travel up and take 

 thoir jilaces from below." Close seasons and regulating the minimum 

 size of the mesh of nets are considered impracticable, as they could not 

 be elFeetually enforced. The Officiating Collector of Elawali (February 

 IGth, 1872) observed, that "no doubt breeding-fish and very young ones 

 are destroyed to a large extent in all ]daces where there is water and 

 they can be got at. Nets are largely employed, but they are also killed 

 with sticks in the .shallow water, and even caught with the hand : some 

 kinds are shot. The smallest sized mesh of the nets used here is §rd of 

 nn inch square. Great difficulties, it is considered, would militate a^-ainst 

 regulating the minimum size of the meshes of nets, or prohibiting the 

 pale of the fry of fish in the bazars." Were close seasons decided upon, 

 from June to August are suggested as the most ajjpropriatc. " The only 

 preventive measure that could be enforced without much didiculty is, 

 I think, the prohibition of all weirs iu the smaller rivers and streams." 

 " If (Jovcrnment will give a reward for crocodiles' eggs, there is no doubt 

 that plenty of eggs would be brought in : but otters arc quite as formid- 

 able to fish as crocodiles, and there is also an animal called 'siis' or 'siis- 

 mar' (porpoise) which preys on fish, and these seem to require as much 

 nttention as crocodiles." The Collector of Agra (February l.^th, 1872) 

 replied, that he had no personal knowledge on the subject, and therefore 

 expressed no opinion. Mr. Achnn^i (in 18G9) reported, respecting Agra, 

 that in his "opinion a wanton destruction of lish does take place. In 

 the cool of the early morning, when the fry swim about the banks of the 

 river, a class of boys are in the habit of dredging for prawns and 

 shrimps, and then great qu.antities of fry are thrown into baskets." 

 The Assistant Collector's memo, on the subject was enclosed. He observed 

 that the Agra market, he believes, is supplied with fish all the year 

 round. The Collector of MiUtra (February 13th, 1872) reported : — 

 " I cannot but think that the destruction of fish, through ca]i. 

 fure of breeding-fish or hy, bears a very small proportion to the 

 injury caused in this part of India by canals. 1 have seen much 

 of the Gauges and Jumna canals that run through Meerut, and 



