clxxiii 



the i(^i>llra of tlie TelisilJars into " yes." TIius, miicli will have (o 

 be omitted. 



!J3G. In the Mceriit Divisio)!, the answers of the Tclisildars iti the 



„ ,. ,„ Doon are thus given: — There nic no people 



i^^X::^l^^:: '"'"''''" -l- s,.l,sist on tl.hing as a sole occupation, 



but Rahars and jNIyras cugngo in it when not 

 otlierwise enii)loyed. The markets are fairly sujiplied, but the size of 

 the fisii brought is yearly decreasing. The average price of fish 

 is 1^, and of mutton SdJ annas a seer. All classes eat lish occasionally, 

 but none depend upon it as food : a great decrease has occurred within 

 the last or 8 years. Nets with minute meshes were used, but for the 

 last two years IJ iuches between the knots has only been allowed. Fish 

 are trapped in irrigated rice-fields by cultivators for their own consumji- 

 tion. The Urpuf/y Co/lector of Bidundskuhin condenses the native reports, 

 and adds the information he has personally collected. Breeding-fish 

 and their young are destroyed here as elsewhere, only in.ismuch as 

 they are not discriminated from other fish. Waters are not poisoned, 

 neither is much fry destroyed, because the consumption of fish is but 

 limited, as few depend upon it as a ])rincipal source of food. " The 

 spontaneous fish which appears in the tanks and pools is caught and 

 eaten by the poorer classes, but apparently with no great eagerness." 

 The niiny season is the most i)rolific of fish in the pools, and the smallest; 

 mesh of the nets used is \ of an inch between the knots. The natives 

 generally recommend that the miuimum size of the mesh of nets should 

 be equal to a rupee. He gives the replies of Tclisildars as follows: — There 

 are not above 12 or 15 families who subsist on fishing, but about 2,000 

 Kaliars, Mullahs, Abcrias, who also ]nirsue other avocations, likewise do so. 

 More than two-thirds of the |iopul.ition, or three lacs of persons, have no 

 religious scruples to eating fish, the supply of which in the waters has 

 remained stationaiy of late years. "The smallest size of the mesh of nets 

 is somewhat less than 1;^ inches from knot to knot." fJust previously, 

 from persoual observation, he stated the size to be \ of an incli between 

 the knots.] The amount of fish consumed yearly in the district is 

 computed at more than 2,000 maunds. The Tefisildars of AUygurh 

 report that there are 39 Malhaia caste fishermen in the district wjio do 

 not follow other occuiiations, whilst there are many others who do. The 

 local markets are not fully sup])lied with fish, the price of the larger sorts 

 averaging 1^, and of small 1 anna the seer. First-sort mutton fetches 2, 

 and second sort 1-9 a seer. A little over half the jiopulation, or 4^8,000, 

 belong to castes who do not object to fish as diet, the sup]ily of which 

 in the waters is considered to have remained stationary. Small ones are 

 not taken in any cpiantity ; the smallest size of the mesh of the nets being 

 ^rd of an inch. Fish are not fiapjied during the rains in irrigated fields. 

 The Tehsildars of Meerut observe that in Baghput there are no exclusive 

 fishermen; in Ilaupur 20 ; in Meerut about ItJO, but 40 of these have 

 other occupations, and only fish during the cold season ; in Gazeeabad 20, 

 but some of these are not solely fishermen ; in Mowana none; in Sirdhan.i 

 aiiout 50, who occasionally fish. Their castes are (1) Mussulmen, 

 particularly of the Belooch division ; (2) Kahars, who are constantly 

 dabbling with water in getting horii/n.% (matting nia(ciials), planting 

 singhanu, &c.; (3J Kolis ; (4) Kathicks. The supply of fish is equal to the 



