( 48 ) 



eventuated in their almost depopulation, now termed " a free 

 industry," and with which it is proposed "no interference 

 should be permitted," although their almost ruined state 

 must be evident in many localities where such license has been 

 allowed. The absolute giving-up of fresh-water fisheries to 

 the people without any restrictions, experience, in every part 

 of the globe, shows, always eventuates in their utter annihila- 

 tion. These " free industries" would be more aptly termed 

 "free poaching," or " wasteful destruction," and as such, I 

 consider, strongly to be condemned, and for the following 

 reasons : That numerous individuals now fritter away their 

 time on these fisheries instead of working at their legitimate 

 occupations, and, whilst doing so, are being permitted to poach 

 the breeding-fish and fry as freely as they please a license 

 which they are not slow in availing themselves of. I assert 

 that this is one of the chief causes of the present decrease of this 

 description of animal food (para. LVII), and that it is not only 

 unfair to the fisheries, but also to the legitimate fishermen, 

 whose occupation in many places is now a thing of the past. I 

 believe this free fishing has been one, if not the principal, cause 

 why they are in such an impoverished condition, and that 

 doing good to the fisheries will not only tend to augment the 

 food-supply to the general good, but also to improve the present 

 condition of the fishermen. If it is still decided that these 

 fisheries shall be continued open to all, and their comparative 

 utter annihilation is not wished for, restrictions as to the use 

 of fixed engines, poisoning of waters, and perhaps the size 

 of the meshes of the nets employed, &c., will have to be laid 

 down by authority, and to see them properly carried out, 

 watchers or water-bailiffs would be necessary. It appears 

 almost ludicrous, were it not lamentable, to observe many 

 well-informed officials, who, in the following reports, have 

 given their opinions, very strongly, that it will be hard on the 

 people if Government issue any regulations to protect their 

 own fisheries from a threatened destruction, and that the 

 license now permitted and so grossly abused should be allow- 

 ed to be continued in every species of poaching manner and 

 without limitation. If rules are to be framed and carried out, 

 who is to pay for them ? if the general tax-payer, then the 

 very existence of these fisheries would be a pecuniary bur- 

 den. In Great Britain, this plan is not pursued, there, local 

 taxation (irrespective of rent) on the fishermen (a moturfa 

 tax) is raised for this purpose. The Collector of Madras 

 (para. 147) believes "the Secretary of State ruled that the 



