( 85 ) 



baited with a live frog. Hardly had the frog splashed into 

 the water, when a moderately sized murrul seized and 

 swallowed it. Desirous of observing what would next ensue, 

 the fish was left as a bait. Before long a large water-snake 

 was perceived swimming towards it, and soon had the fish in 

 its capacious jaws, thus the three were pulled out of the 

 water at once, and the snake despatched. The porpoise, 

 Platanista G angelica, is stated likewise to be very destruc- 

 tive to fish (p. clxxi). 



OBJECTIONS TO LEGAL ACTION BEING TAKEN. 

 LXXXIV. Objections have been advanced against any 



General objections to action action being taken upon the present 

 being taken. mode of working the fresh-water 



fisheries of India, and that by many officials. Some appa- 

 rently judge from the district they are in ; others from single 

 localities, or the report of a subordinate, whose very observa- 

 tions demonstrate his ignorance. A wide and general en- 

 quiry appears necessary before giving any definite opinions, 

 and those of others who have any knowledge upon the sub- 

 ject deserve most careful consideration. I, therefore, propose 

 shortly adverting to the various reasons that have been ad- 

 duced by those who advocate leaving matters alone, and 

 such may be arranged under the following heads : (1) Op- 

 posed to Divine laws. (2) General objections. (3) Legal 

 objections. (4) As unnecessary. (5) On zoological grounds. 

 (6) On political grounds. ( 7) For social reasons. (8) As in- 

 terference with old customs. (9) Interference with trade. 

 LXXXV. First, prohibiting unrestricted capture of fry 



Divine objections to prohibit- one official considered would be in 



ing the capture and sale of fry. opposition to Divine laWS, but, as he 



does not advance such to be contrary to the "laws of Nature," 

 one can only quote a recent writer's observation "The 

 laws of Nature are the voice of God." In Bombay at Kaira 

 (p. Ivii), the common superstitious belief is that the deities of 

 the river have been displeased by the withholding of the offer- 

 ings formerly made by travellers who crossed it in carts previ- 

 ously to the opening of the railway. As a consequence, 

 Divine anger has shown itself in decreasing the fishes in the 

 Mhye. Hindus think it better to take the life of one large fish 

 than many small ones p. xiv), as observed in the Panjab. 



LXXXVI. Secondly, general objections. The Offi- 



Gcuerai objections to legal ciating Chief Commissioner of 



actiou - Oudh (p. cxxix) deprecates legislative 



