( 69 ) 



2, Jth : 2, ^rd : 2, |th, and 1 that it will arrest a grain of 

 barley ; thus, 67 European officials give the minimum size 

 of the meshes of nets employed as follows: from % to 1 inch, 

 3 : from Jth to ^ an inch, 2 : from -|th to Jth of an inch, 10 : up 

 to Jth of an inch, 25 : small, 2 : very small, 8 : size of a grain of 

 wheat or harley, 2 : of a large needle, 2 : of mosquito net or 

 coarse muslin, 7 : too small to be measured, 4. In the 

 N. W. Provinces, 16 European officials report as follows of 

 the minimum size of the mesh of nets which are employed : 

 1 at \ an inch, 1 at Wth, 2 at ^th, 3 at Jth, 1 at 

 -J-th, 6 at so minute that the smallest fish are stopped, 1 at 

 the size of a grain of mucca, and 1 at that of a small pea. 

 The Civil Surgeon of Azimgurh's statement of 4 inches 

 between each knot is of course omitted from the foregoing. 

 In Bengal (p. clxxxii), 7 European officials answer as fol- 

 lows : 1, that the meshes are minute : 1, -^th of an inch : 

 1, ^th : 1, -|-th, and 3 as large as a grain of mustard seed, 

 rice, or mosquito net. Although the above gives the minimum 

 size of the mesh, it must not be overlooked that, when formed 

 of wicker-work, still smaller interstices, when possible, are 

 employed. In Burma, 10 European officials report as fol- 

 lows : 2 give the smallest size at J an inch, 1 at f rds, 

 1 at Jth, 1 at ^th, 1 at T Vth, and 4 as minute. 



LXXII. A few observations are here necessary upon 

 Seasons when different meshes the meshes of the nets employed, and 

 are used - how it is that such different answers 



may be given by persons residing in the same locality, as to 

 the minimum size which is used, whilst each merely reports 

 on what he personally observes. The meshes of nets vary 

 with the season of the year. Nets, whether used by one, two 

 or more individuals during the rainy season, in inundated parts 

 of the country, small water- courses, &c., have a very minute 

 mesh ; in fact, this is the period when those which will stop 

 a grain of wheat ensnare an ant, not allow a large needle 

 to pass, arrest the progress of a mosquito, or only permit 

 water to go through, are called into play ; now the fry are 

 moving about, and seeking food and security in shallows and 

 away from strong currents. As the muddy monsoon water 

 subsides a little, and fishermen are able to wade up to their 

 waists without the fear of being carried away by the current, 

 the size of the mesh is increased, for the fry are becoming lar- 

 ger, roving further for their food, and the distance between knot 

 and knot are found to have become as large as |th or ^rd of 



