( 37 ) 



it is in irrigated or flooded localities that the fry most abound, 

 and generally with the monsoon rains every little stream and 

 piece of water is resorted to by them to obtain food in. But 

 by irrigated fields are not here included those irrigated by 

 wells, but merely those in communication with running water 

 and large tanks. In a large extent of irrigated country, 

 the fields, which are divided off into embanked spaces in 

 order to disseminate the water obtained from an irrigation 

 canal, or embanked river or stream, the fry obtain an entrance 

 along with the water which is kept at a depth which suits 

 their puny size ; whilst insect life abounds, excepting birds, 

 they have but few natural enemies but man to contend with, 

 If irrigation is carried on by dipping water out of canals 

 at some depth, and this does not run off again into any other 

 water-course, the fry of course must perish as the water dries 

 up, But if the water is conducted from field to field, 

 these localities should be excellent nurseries for young 

 fish, but, as has been observed (para. XXI), they are now, as a 

 rule, more useful in destruction than in propagation, as man 

 is allowed to place traps at every outlet (and sometimes at 

 inlets), and destroy all the young fish as they drop down- 

 wards towards the larger river. Pry also are found in 

 abundance in sheltered spots at the edges of rivers and in 

 shallow pieces of water, where there is no current to wash 

 them away, and here an abundance of suitable food exists, 

 but where, as will be shown, they do escape the search of 

 the fisherman and man's destructive greed. 



EISH IN AN ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW. 

 LIII. Before enquiring into whether a wasteful destruc- 

 what proportion of people tion of fish takes place in India, it will 

 use fish as food. be as we u to observe upon what propor- 



tion of people in India and Burma use fish as food, or rather 

 can do so without infringing caste prejudices. Amongst the 

 various races inhabiting India and British Burma> this article, 

 as food, is held in different degrees of estimation, and in 

 proportion to such must be its economic importance. In the 

 Panjab, comparatively but few of the inhabitants are pro- 

 hibited by their religion from consuming fish, but there are 

 many Hindus who reject it, as well as the rural population 

 of some districts. But of those residing in towns and in 

 hilly ranges, it appears that, if the Brahmans are excepted, 

 the consumption of fish is only limited by the paucity of 

 the supply and the cost of the article. The price where fish 



