Ivii 



used in deeper water. Large nets supported at intervals by light hollow 

 gourds are stretched out in the river, one end being attached to a 

 boat. 



The Mamlutdars of the Kaira Collectorate report that it is 

 difficult to give the exact number of fisher- 



men > as *"I *> as , a *> agriculturists like- 

 wise, and often employ themselves during the 

 monsoon in plying ferry-boats on the larger rivers. On the banks of the 

 Mhye there are probably about 500 persons employed in supplying the 

 Baroda market with fish, both fresh and salt. The only fisherman caste 

 is the " Machee," but many coolies and Mussulmen engage in fishing as 

 well. There is stated to be little or no demand for fresh fish in the local 

 markets. Possibly about one-sixth of the population have no religious 

 scruples about eating it, but few comparatively use this food from 

 choice. It is supposed that the supply of fish in the Mhye has decreased 

 of late years. The common superstitious belief is, that the deities of the 

 river have been displeased by the withholding of the offerings formerly 

 made by travellers who crossed it in carts, previously to the opening of 

 the railway. Fishing is common during the rains ; all sorts are captured ; 

 the nets allow none to escape ; the minimum size of the mesh is about one 

 quarter of an inch in diameter. Fish are not trapped in irrigated fields 

 during the rains, as irrigation is chiefly derived from wells. The following 

 are the principal implements employed in fishing : rod and line " gul" ; 

 torch-fishing by night, " Ook" ; hand nets, ( ' hath jhal" ', or cast-nets, 

 (" fulohv") ; and large nets, " maha jhal." 



113. The Mamlutdars in the Khandeisli Collectorate report that 



there are 23,600 fishermen in the whole of 

 " * district, but they do not depend upon fish- 



ing alone as a means or. livelihood, as they 



also pursue different occupations. The names of the fishermen castes are 

 Koli, Pardi, Kokne, Wanjari, Bhui, Mahar, Baradi, Bhil, Diwar, Kotil, 

 Mussulman, Mawache, aud Thudwi. The local markets are insufficiently 

 supplied with fish, that captured being principally for home consumption. 

 Three-fourths of the people eat fish, the amount of which in the district 

 has decreased of late. During the rains many small ones are captured in 

 every possible way. The smallest mesh employed is down to one quarter 

 of an inch, after which a cloth is used, or no mesh at all. Fish are 

 trapped in the irrigated fields during the rains. The different means used 

 for capturing fish are jali, nets ; basket traps ; gul, a hook used only 

 in the rains, cloth, poison of sorts as follows, hinganbet, yathil, glr 

 and thor. 



114. The Mamlutdars of the NasiJc Collectorate report that there 



are about 4,000 fishermen in the district, but 

 h^tSk CoClmte: fflCial8 some only are at times solely thus employed, 



as they are also agriculturists and day-labour- 

 ers. The fishermen castes are Maratha, Bhoee, Kahar, Koli, Bhil, Taroo, 

 Taral, Kokne', Warli. Many Mussulmen and Koonbees also fish. None 

 of the markets are sufficiently supplied. With respect to the propor- 

 tion of persons who eat fish, the reports vary, in some talookas only 

 one in twenty-two of the population are stated to do so, in others two- 

 thirds or three-fourths, or| even fifteen-sixteenths do. In the Penit State, 



