CCVll 



nncl, furlliM-, ilic taking' of fisli by luiliiipf out pools niul ponds pliould be 

 ]iroliibitwl. The use of lamoos aliould also be proliibited : these are 

 ecrccns (weirs), the rods of which are placed very close, and when the tide 

 is liig-h and tlie fish are foedinfr amongst the bushes and grass ou the 

 side of the tidal creek, those screens are so placed as to enclose a large 

 tract. When the tide falls, all the fish loft are naturally caught. The 

 large are taken by the fishermen, but the small are left to die. The space 

 between the rods of lamonx allowed should never bo less than 1 inch. 

 Here also an inspector would be required to see the order is not evaded." 

 The Urnn/i/ Commissioner of Shwcgi/cn {3y\\y \'ii\\, 1872) remarked that 

 "breeding-fish get out of the deep rivers and ponds at the very coni- 

 mencenient of the rains, and force themselves up the runs of water flow- 

 ing towards the freshly covered plains. Many are caught in screen traps 

 made of split bamboo or reeds stretched across the small creeks and runs. 

 The young fish (four months old) are caught by the same contrivance on 

 their way back to the deep water in October." The smallest mesh used 

 is about i an inch. In reeds or bamboo screens (weirs), the interstices 

 are frequently under a ^ of an inch. " The only difficulty against 

 regulating the size of the mesh is a pecuniary one as regards rents. There 

 would be a little more trouble in making the lessees of fisheries use 

 screens of a certain space between the rods, but onlj' at first, and public 

 and religious feeling amongst the Buddist population would certainly be 

 in favor of letting small fish escape, but there would necessarily be some 

 loss of revenue." Does not know of any objection against prohibiting 

 the sale of fry in the bazar. " It appears to me that there is not much 

 known upon the subject of the fresh-water fishes of Ikirma and their 

 liabits. As books of reference are not available, I would suggest that 

 the head-quarters of each district be supplied with some comprehensive 

 work on Indian fishes." [None exists; the late Dr. Jerdon's manuals did 

 not extend to this class of animals, and without native names and illus- 

 trations, works simply giving descriptions would be of little, if any, use.] 

 " Olficers will then be able to turn their attention to the subject. 

 The breeding times and the habits of different species might be 

 learnt by enquiring of the fishermen, that is, as far as they 

 themselves know. A few of the smaller kinds which arc supposed 

 at present to be distinct species, but which may be only the fry, ehould 

 be transferred to an enclosed piece of water to see what they would 

 come to. "There are many fish supposed to be adults, as ' Nga-khoo * 

 l^Clarias tnaffur] ; one species of ' Nga-yan ' lOphiocrphahis gachua or 

 jmnclaiui\ — see my observations near the commencement of this para- 

 graph under the head of the Amher.st District] ; 'Nga-gyee' \Saccobran- 

 c/ins fo-isilis'] ; 'Nga-hpan-ma' \^Mola Alkinsonii'\ ; 'Khoan-ma' [Bar/ms 

 s/iffnin], &c., which would pass through in bamboo screens, the interstices 

 of which are an inch apart, and before absolutely prohibiting their use, 

 closer enquiries and more knowledge of the subject is necessary to show 

 at what seasons such may be used, and at what times they should be 

 prohibited." [With the exception of the ' Khoan-ma,' Barbus sligjna, 

 adult of all the other fish would 1)6 stopped by a one-inched mesh 

 between the knots, calculating that the fullest stretch would be IJ inches, 

 some due to their width, others to their depth or their spines. Even 

 large ones of the last species would be unable to pass.] " Generally the 



