Ixxvi 



that at the first the price of fish will be raised to pay the rent, but as 

 fish augment, it must fall.] The Collector also reported that there are a 

 few zemindary estates over which Government do not possess the right 

 of fishing. There would be an objection to leasing out fisheries in tanks 

 and channels employed for irrigation and drinking purposes, as they 

 would be spoilt by using nets in them, as it would continually stir up 

 the mud and foul the water. If fisheries are let, they should be for at 

 least three years at a time. There is one irrigation weir at Dowlaishweram 

 across the Godaveri river. At first after its construction the take of fish 

 below it was enormously increased, and diminished above; this effect 

 continues to the almost total destruction of the fisheries above the weir ; 

 below it the large takes continue as the ascent of fish is arrested. 

 [There is apparently some error in this answer, as the same official observed 

 on September llth, 1867. " The fishermen say that they do not catch 

 the sable in such abundance now as they used to do, immediately after the 

 anicut was built/' and the result of personal investigations was the same. 

 The Revd. Dr. Murphy wrote, in 1868, that the fish had decidedly 

 decreased since 1861, and one of the causes was, "the universal and un- 

 restricted capture of the fry in the rivers and irrigation channels."] 

 That young fish are largely destroyed, the size of the mesh of the nets 

 being very small ; but there would be considerable difficulty in regulating 

 its minimum size in fisheries which are rented out, but were such done, 

 fishermen should have six months' notice. There is no reason against 

 prohibiting all fishing, except with hooks and lines, within 100 yards 

 of all anicuts, weirs, dams, locks, or masonry works extending across 

 streams or canals of fresh water. 



152. The Acting Head Assistant Collector of the Kistna District 



observed (October 21st, 1867) that fish ascend 



Opinion of the Collector of th Kigtna H after th fresheg are Q 



the Kistna District. ;, XT 



as clear water flows, or about .November. 



Prior to the construction of the Bezwada weir which spans it, they 

 ascended in large number to 50 miles higher up where they spawned ; 

 now the shoals are arrested. The local fishermen employ small nets, 

 but those from Dowlaishweram bring some 3 or 400 yards long, and 

 12 to 14 feet deep, and the largest quantities are taken in the deep 

 pools below the weir, the net being first fastened or fixed at one end, 

 then taken round a wide sweep, and gradually drawn in. The sable 

 is locally termed ' yekkudi ehakka' from its perseverance in attempting 

 to surmount the weir and ascend the river, from the Telugu word 

 ' yekku' to climb. Unable to pass, the whole shoal is taken at the weir, 

 either by nets or hanging baskets near the edge of the water, so that 

 those which jump fall into them. The fishermen unanimously assert 

 that these fish do not spawn between the weir and the sea. " I do not 

 think it would be possible to contrive any means to enable the fish to 

 ascend, without interfering with the damming up of the river water, which 

 in November and December is necessary to ensure the rice crop." The 

 Executive Engineer (November 5th, 1867) observed, "the shoals of Palasa 

 come up from October to April, while the river is low. * * * The fish 

 could easily pass through the under-sluices, [this is a mistake ; they are 

 unable to pass through, even if they were open], but when the river is 

 low, it is of importance that these should be kept closed during the 



