Ixxiv 



bited; this prohibition to take effect from the 1st July 1871, and to be in 

 force in all waters, both salt and fresh, classed as Government fisheries. 

 The draining 1 of all tanks, the property of Government, for the purpose 

 of catching fish, and the poisoning of water for the purpose of catching 

 fish in all tanks, rivers, and streams, should be strictly prohibited. Notices 

 should be issued that persons detected in the last-named practice will be 

 proceeded against criminally. All fishing with nets or loaded-hooks 

 within 200 yards of any anicut or other masonry work extending across 

 a Government stream should be prohibited. All fishing in irrigation 

 channels, the property of Government, which communicate with the sea, 

 from October to February, both inclusive, should be prohibited. The 

 following scale of rewards for the destruction of vermin should be offered 

 if killed within one mile of an anicut or masonry dam : each alligator 

 [crocodile was the animal for whose destruction I suggested rewards should 

 be offered, and the Madras Government agreed to. I hardly think it 

 would be of use giving them for alligators, as those reptiles are peculiar 

 to the American continent] 6 feet long and upwards, Rs. 5; from 

 2 to 6 feet, Rs. 2 ; under 2 feet, Re. 1 ; every egg, 2 annas ; each 

 otter, Re. 1. Collectors should submit a list of the localities in 

 their respective districts where they would recommend that rewards 

 should be given. Collectors of Godaveri, Kistna, and Tanjur will take 

 measures for passing a certain number of fish over the anicuts by netting 

 them in the manner proposed by Lieutenant Vibart, n. E. Collectors will 

 understand that these orders apply only to tidal estuaries of considerable 

 extent, and to inland tanks and streams which, as a rule, retain water 

 throughout the year in sufficient quantity to keep up a constant supply 

 of fish, and are the property of Government. A list of all such estuaries 

 and fresh-water reservoirs and streams as Collectors consider should be 

 classed as Government fisheries, should be submitted without delay. It 

 is not intended to interfere with the usual practice of catching fish in 

 small tanks which do not retain water throughout the year, nor with any 

 rivers but those possessing a perennial supply of water. Channels, 

 however, such as those under the Godaveri and Kistna anicuts, which, 

 although dry for certain seasons, communicate with rivers and back- 

 waters having a perpetual supply of water, may be included. 



149. The Acting Collector of Ganjam (June 14th, 1870) observed 



that no .protective measure in respect to fish- 

 p .eries appear to be necessary in his district, 



as the rivers have little or no water in them 

 save when the freshes come down ; most of the tanks are also in the same 

 condition for some months in the year. The water is never poisoned or 

 drained for the purpose of catching the fish. The practice of renting 

 out the right to fish in rivers, tanks, c tamparas' (large lakes), back- 

 waters, &c , for a term of years already obtains in the district. 



150. The Collector of Vizagapatam (July 1 7th, 1869) remarked, that 



the fresh-water fisheries of the district arc 

 C lleCt r Of utterl 7 insignificant; the rivers are mere hill 

 streams, dry for the greater part of the year, 

 and there are few tanks of a sufficient size to make fishing in them of 

 any consequence. Until the abolition of the moturpha, a tax was levied 

 upon fishermen which might perhaps be called a rent for the right <->i' 



