XXX 



Theoretically this may be very correct, but how is it practically? 

 In Sind, nets for capturing fry do not exist, but still Nature maintains the 

 due proportions, of which I will adduce one instance out of several that 

 I have personally witnessed. At Muhu, the canal from the Indus joins 

 the bed of the old Narrah, and fishing was prohibited. A deep hole 

 existed at the confluence of these two pieces of water, and fish were most 

 numerous. The muddy water of the Indus here joined the compara- 

 tively clear stream from the old Narrah, for, due to its more circuitous 

 route, much of its mud and silt had become deposited. If a small fish 

 appeared, it seemed to be at once disposed of by the large siluroids. At 

 the first throw of a cast net, 10 of these fish weighing about 30 H)s. were 

 captured : having crossed the old Narrah, in one more throw into the 

 conjoined stream, 18 more were taken, weighing about 50 Ibs. The same 

 is seen in the thinly populated districts in Burma. Larger fish prey 

 upon the smaller ones ; thus I have taken a barbel out of a hard- rayed fish, 

 Nandus marmoratus, that was one-third the length of its captor. 



48. As to the fishing in the Indus itself, this chiefly consists in 



+ capturing the shoals of shad, which ascend 



^Fishery in Indus, mostly of feom ^ ^ for ^ purpoge Q breeding ^ 



about February, and return to the salt water 



about the end of September, for, " owing to the dangerous character of the 

 river at all times, but especially during the inundations, there are 

 strong contending currents," and other fishing is but little resorted to. 

 Another reason that the river is but slightly fished, is, that the population 

 in its vicinity is scanty, for, owing to the constant and occasionally 

 sudden variations in its course, the neighbouring land is always liable 

 to be ruined by the silt deposited upon it during inundations, and villages 

 are in danger of being swept away. 



49. The fishes in the fresh waters of Sind are mainly of two 



descriptions -first, the river fish common to the 



Fresh-water fishes consist of Panjab, and the pulla, which ascends from the 

 river and inundation sorts No f breeding purposes, and it is this latter 



preventible destruction of the , . to -^ 



immature appears to ohtain. only that is much sought alter by fishermen ; 



secondly, the inundation fish, which are of two 



descriptions: (1) river fish, which have been carried by the overflowing 

 of the Indus over the neighbouring country ; (2) tank fish, which, 

 from the same cause, have in like manner been distributed everywhere. 

 No undue and preventible destruction of small fish appears to exist in 

 Upper and Central Sind -first due to the paucity of population ; secondly, 

 because of the rapidity and dangerous character of the river Indus and 

 the constant variations in its channel ; and thirdly, owing to the security 

 the immature fish obtain during the inundation season. 



50. As to the proportion of people who eat fish ? Its use is almost 



universal, and here the Mahomedans do not 

 Fish universally eaten. ^^ ^ ^ gcalelegs formj ^ under the belief 



that, if they have gill openings, it is a proof that they are allowed to the 

 faithful, as the prophet cut their throats. 



51. The markets seem to be sufficiently supplied during 'certain 



seasons of the year. The amount of fish 



Fisheries peculiar. Wasteful appears to be stationary : breeding ones are 

 destruction not observed. n , . ', 



not destroyed, as fishing has to be suspended 



