1 



by a Parsee, who pays five rupees a year, and has done so since the 

 time of the Peshwas. The rights in all instances, except in that at 

 Callian, appear to be of custom, and in respect to which the parties can 

 claim none under documentary title. Government has never exer- 

 cised its right, simply because the fisheries are of little, if any, value; to 

 now do so would no way benefit the State, and would merely lead 

 to discontent. Subsequently (January 6th, 1872) the Collector observed, 

 that his being a sea- coast district the fresh -water fisheries are but small, 

 the only waters being in the rivers Bheema and Seena. No distinction is 

 made between breeding fish and others, whilst the young are also caught. 

 There is no restriction whatever, none is recommended, whilst any restric- 

 tive law would render additional police necessary to prevent its infringe- 

 ment. 



102. The Collector of Colaba (March 23rd, 1872) observed, that, owing 



to the flatness of the country, the tides run so 



f the lleCt r f f ar U P the different creeks tnat tlie fresh- 

 water fisheries are very restricted and of little 



value. A Statement appended shows the rights of Government and 

 private parties with respect to the fresh- water fisheries in the Collectorate. 

 Sheets of water, more or less deep, formed in a hollow in the bed of a 

 river, are termed " Doho's." All these fisheries belong to Government, 

 but any one is allowed to fish in them without payment, with the excep- 

 tion of two small ones in the talooka of Peun which are the property of 

 the Inamdar of the village. Breeding and very young fish are destroyed 

 to a great extent by snares both in rivers and nallas during all seasons 

 of the year. The smallest size of the mesh is one which will just admit 

 a large needle. One inch between knot and knot should be the minimum 

 size, but the fishermen would not obey any such regulation unless it were 

 legalised. 



103. The Acting Collector of Satara reported (June 22nd, 1871) 



that fish of about fifty kinds are caught in 



Opinions of European officials th k streamg in the district, viz., the 



in the Satara Collectorate. . , & .__. ~ / / . 



Knstna, Yeana, Cormooree, J aria, Koina, 



Warna, Yerla, Maun, Neera, and Bheema. They are chiefly taken in the 

 long deep reaches of the larger streams in which there is always water. 

 No rights over particular spots are legally reserved either to Government 

 or to the villagers, but the inhabitants of each village fish in the con- 

 tiguous waters. In certain places on the Kristna, near temples, the 

 Brahmins, on religious grounds, prevent any fish being caught. The 

 Collector observed (March 16th, 1872) that breeding and very young fish 

 are destroyed to a considerable extent by means of nets in pools both in 

 great rivers and in nallas. When the rivers become muddy at the com- 

 mencement of the monsoon, fish die in large numbers, also when they 

 become nearly dry at the close of the hot weather. The smallest size 

 of the mesh of the nets varies from three-quarters to one-eighth of an 

 inch in circumference (f^-ths to ^nd of an inch between knot and 

 knot of the meshes). No difficulties exist against regulating the size 

 of these meshes, except some legal provision in order to punish offenders. 

 Half an inch between each knot is proposed. There are no objections 

 of any weight, against prohibiting the sale of the fry of fish in the 

 bazars. 



