IV 



7. As to whose the fisheries are ? is, I conclude, a question which, 



though raised by some persons, scarcely ad- 

 The fisheries the property of m [fa O f an argument. The residents, doubt- 



kt V t e hem ient< H W t leSS > haVe the Same Ckims ln res ? ect t0 tl ? em 



as they have to the land, but no license gives 



a right. In the Panjab, under native rule, the fisheries are stated to 

 have been annually let to a contractor, but whether he was bound to see 

 the fisheries were not impoverished, there appear to be no records to show. 

 ' The Deputy Commissioner of Kaugra' observes, when proposing pro- 

 tective measures, that they must be partially a system of Government 

 preserves, such as was always in force in the time of the Rajahs, partly 

 by giving licenses to monopolists to supply the markets, and partly 

 by licenses for fishing with small nets for home consumption, and not 

 for sale. 



8. The fishermen of this province do not appear to follow this 



occupation alone, but only as a supplement to 



Panjab fishermen not depend- other meang of suppor t so none have an 

 ant upon this occupation as a , . . , ,-, i i j -\ 



sole means of subsistence. interest m protecting the fisheries, but only in 



procuring as much as they can, and whenever 



they can, for themselves. Consequently, regulations would not interfere 

 with any sole means of subsistence affecting a class. 



9. Are breeding fish or fry destroyed ? is a most important enquiry. 

 Are breeding fish or fry de- Previous to the introduction of the present 



stroyed? Result of regulating rules into the Panjab, of regulating the mini- 

 the minimum size of the mesh mum ^ZQ O f the mesh of the nets at 1 J 



inches between each knot, large numbers of 



young fish were sold as ( Chilwas/ Since this time in many of the dis- 

 tricts this destruction has been partially stopped ; in others the regulations 

 have not as yet been carried out. ' The Officiating Deputy Commissioner 

 of Ambala' observes, that the restriction as to the size of the mesh of 

 the net has only been held to apply to rivers, whilst in fields, tanks, 

 and hollows, the smallest meshes are used ; indeed, sheets are employed. 

 In a few tehsils the trapping of fish in irrigated or inundated fields is 

 recorded. The regulation as to the minimum size of the mesh at 1J 

 inches between the knots appears a very good one, and does not entail 

 much difficulty in being carried out. 



10. The modes of fishing pursued are exceedingly diversified, and 



the wholesale ones may be first adverted to. 



Mode of capturing fish whole- j Kangra the zemindars are stated to do a 

 sale in canals m the hills which . . . . , , 



are constructed for working good deal of mischief, in the early part of 

 mills. Impediment to their the rains, by bringing the fish into side 

 entrance should be imperative streams, then draining off the water and leav- 

 on the mill-owners. , -, j u 



ing them on dry ground ; young and old are 



caught in this manner. Mr. Carleton observes, that the grain in the 

 Himalayas is ground by hundreds of mills moved by water power, canals 

 are constructed into which water is diverted to turn these mills, and into 

 these, numerous small fishes, especially the young of the more valuable 

 sorts, find their way. By shutting off the water from these 'kools' or 

 canals, the fish become left on dry ground, and are thus captured. Person- 

 ally I tried this mode of taking fish between Kutla and Kangra : by stopping 

 the flow of water into this miniature canal, fish were seen struggling- 



