li 



104. The Collector of Ealadgi reported (March 1st, 1872) that it is 



believed breeding 1 fish and very young- ones 

 E Opinion of the Collector c ^ not degtroved to any great extent in hig 



district, but the smallest size of the mesh 



of the nets is about equal to a grain of wheat. There are no persons 

 who are strictly fishermen, nor are there any considerable fisheries, and, 

 were the size of the mesh of the nets regulated in future, it would 

 probably be difficult to detect any infringement, as it would not be easy 

 to discover in which part of the river the people were netting. Beyond 

 this, there is no reason why the size of the meshes of the nets should 

 not be regulated, and half an inch between each knot is proposed as the 

 minimum size. Fry of fish are said not to be sold in the bazars. 



105. The Acting Collector of Skolapur reported (May 24th, 1871) 



that there are two rivers in the district, the 



Opinion of the Collector o Bheema and the Seena . The right to net fish 

 Snolapur. , . , , & . 



in these rivers or in other places is not sold 



by auction, because of their not containing fish enough to render it 

 worth while for people to become purchasers. Subsequently (February 

 7th, 1872) he reported that fishermen take every sort and size of fish 

 without distinction, that no restriction exists as to the size of the mesh 

 of the nets employed, and he does not recommend any for the future, 

 as additional police would be necessary, and the necessity for such a 

 prohibition is not apparent to him. 



106. The Collector of Belgaum reported (May 25th, 1871) that 



fish in abundance, but for the most part small 



Mulpurbha, lambraparm, (jataprabha, and 

 Markundya rivers. As regards fisheries, the respective rights of Govern- 

 ment and of private parties have never been determined. Neither 

 Government nor private individuals reserve rights, and the inhabitants 

 of any of the villages on the banks of the rivers are in the habit of 

 catching the fish for their own consumption. The Collector subsequently 

 (March 19th, 1872) submitted a report compiled from information 

 furnished by the First Assistant, the Assistant Collector, and Deputy 

 Collector, who are severally in charge of districts. He observed that 

 there would appear from the various reports to be no difficulty 

 in regulating the size of the meshes of the nets used, ruling that 

 none smaller should be employed except for prawns and "moree" 

 fishing. Moreover, by doing this, there would be no inconvenience caused 

 to fishermen. There exists no objection against prohibiting the sale of 

 the fry of fish in the bazars. The First Assistant Collector observes 

 that breeding and young fish are not systematically destroyed, although 

 fishermen have no compunction in slaughtering them when they come- 

 to hand. In consequence, however, of the Mulpurbha, the only river of 

 any size in the district, being flooded during the rainy season, fishing is 

 suspended at this time, which is the breeding period for fish : consequently 

 they become spared to a certain extent. Breeding fish and young ones 

 are caught in nets, and no fisherman ever thinks of throwing them 

 back on account of their condition or puny size ; the fishermen in the 

 villages on the banks of the rivers throughout the district being equally 

 glad to catch them at any time in hauling their nets. Bottom-fishing 



