CCXIV 



MADRAS. 



(Supplementary Itcport). 



391. The Acliiig Collector of Bdlary (7tli September 1872) oL- 



sevves — brectling'-fish and fry are ilcstro^'od in 



• Ol'"'J°"f of^'-'.-fPf" P"""-'"'^ the tanks, hut if not taken, they would onh 

 in tbo BuUary Cullectoiate. ' ' jj •' 



(lie when the water dries up. Iho smallest 



size of mesh in use appears to he one througli which a quill can just 

 be passed : it could only he regulated in leased waters, a )n-ocecdiii{;;- In 

 doQS not consider necessary,, and as regulations are not recommended, 

 " fry will still be caught, an 1 when caught, it must be sold." The Col- 

 lector (see page Ixxix) stated, as regards letting the fisheries of thi^ 

 Collectorate, that it is not probable that any persons will be found Ic 

 bid for them. They have been put up to auction this year and realizeil 

 072 rupees. The Sub-Collector contradicts all the others who asseil 

 breeding-fish and young- ones arc destroyed, but gives the minimum 

 size of the mesh of nets at y'gth or g'^th ot an inch ; replies •■ s to whal 

 difliculties there are against regulating it — " none much. The Polici 

 would be always able to get fish for nothing, by the threat of chargiiiv 

 fishermen with fishing with an improper net." Prohibiting the sali 

 of fry in the bazars would be useless, as they would be S(dd just a. 

 much, though more privately; whilst were a close season declared foi 

 two months during the monsoon in hilly districts, such might "causi 

 the wild tribes to starve during the breeding season." The Ilcui 

 Assistant Collector replies — all fish are caught irrespective of their sizi 

 and condition: by nets and basket-traps chiefly, and in the tank, 

 when the waters are low. The minimum mesh in use is given al 

 probably ^ an inch in diameter, and as to regulating such, " it will Iji 

 as easy a matter as the prohibition of illicit arrack-stills, and I do nol 

 think that much hardship would ensue :" one inch between the knot: 

 of each mesh is proposed. 



895. The Acting Collector of Trichinopoly reports (10th AugusI 



1872) that fishermen spare no (ish, howevci 



.ee^;';\-T..^utoH;.'"" ''"' ,«n.all; a tremendous destruction takes plac, 



below the irrigation weirs where their asceni 

 is arrested, and in the pools of (lie river as they subside, also in tank 

 that are rented out. One-eighth of an inch is given as the smallest siz< 

 mesh emploj'cd, which ought to be regulated as tending to increase tlii 

 fish population, and thus secure a good supjily to the market ; five iiiche: 

 iu circumference is proposed. 



396. The Acting Collector of the Kistna (29th August 1872 



„ . . „ „ „., . , observes that fish are caught wherever found 



Opinion or huropenu OfScials , . •, ■ ° , i i- 



in tlio Kistmi Di.ti'ict. '"'^^ '» every possible way ; hence breedui; 



ones and fry can hardly escape. The sinalle: 

 mesh will hardly permit a grain of red gram to pass, hut great dillicul 

 ties would exist iu regulating it, or prohibiting the sale of the fi- 



