XXXV11 



Thus, out of 32 returns, 16 reporters give the minimum size o the 

 mesh of the nets to be that of a grain of gram or wheat or less, whilst 

 14 more state it to be one- third of an inch or less between knot and 

 knot of the meshes, and two below one inch. But if the reports of 

 those who assert that about an inch, or less than one, exists between 

 knot and knot of the meshes are examined, one must be led to the 

 conclusion that some error has occurred, as they state that very small 

 fish are captured during the rains. In many places where the fish are so 

 minute, that a net however small cannot capture them, a cloth is 

 employed, and, as one official observed, this may be said to have no mesh 

 at all. Consequently, if any fry do escape, it must not be attributed 

 to the will of the fishermen, but rather to their inability to capture 

 them. 



69. Trapping fish is carried out in various ways, but the most 



common one appears to be by wicker cages 



Breeding and young fish resembling rat traps, into which a fish having 

 trapped in various forms of , -j . v , . , mi 



cruives. entered cannot obtain exit from. These are 



made of such a fine texture, that the most 



minute cannot escape through the interstices of the various pieces of 

 wicker work of which they are formed ; even fry are taken in them. 

 The course of streams is also sometimes diverted so that all the water 

 has to pass through a wicker cage or over a wicker platform, by which 

 means all the fish are captured. Damming streams or portions of tanks, 

 emptying out the water and thus obtaining all the contained fish, is also 

 carried on. On a dam being raised, an artificial opening is cut in it, 

 and a wicker cage or an apparatus of bamboo and net is made use of, to 

 take all the fish which are carried down in the current with the escaping 

 water. 



70. Poisoning fish does not seem to be unknown in the Bombay 



Presidency. It is reported in Khandeish 



Waters are poisoned to ob- b y me ans of hinganbet, yathil, gir, and 

 tarn fish m some of the Collec- ,/ TVT -i *i i< i ir x--i 



torates. thor; in Nasik by the "soopli/ tobacco 



leaves, and the milk bush, as well as by the 



fruit of the "jel phul;" in Ahmednuggur and Dharwar by the milk 

 bush ; whilst in Nasik it is observed that this mode of taking fish used 

 to be very common, but every attempt has been made to put down the 

 objectionable custom. They are also reported to poison fish in the Puna 

 and Belgaum Collect orates, but in the Gokah Talooka, in the latter, it is 

 stated that the practice has to a certain extent been stopped, owing 

 to the rules of the Forest Department, under which it is prohibited to 

 cut the small twigs and leaves from which the stupefying drugs are 

 made. This is a destructive method of obtaining all the fish in a nearly 

 or quite stagnant pool or piece of water, which, irrespective of destroying 

 old and young indiscriminately, cannot be supposed to obtain the 

 proceeds in so wholesome a state, as if they had been taken by means of 

 nets. The water itself is thus sometimes rendered deleterious to human 

 beings and cattle that unwarily partake of it. 



71. There are other modes of fishing which are carried on by 



various means, as employing hooks and lines 

 either suspended to poles in the water or 

 used merely by anglers. 



