XCV1 



fishing 1 . The chief time for catching- fish is when the water in the tanks 

 is very low, and the labourers have been allowed to capture them in com- 

 pensation for their performing kudimaramut ; whilst by fishing, the water 

 in the tanks becomes filthy and unfit for use. With the exception of 

 Brahmins and Komaties all castes are said to eat fish. In the talookas of 

 Nellur, Ongole, Kandukur, Atmakur, Udayagiri, and Gudur, fresh fish 

 is preferred to the salted ; both are indiscriminately used in Kanigiri 

 Rapuru, and Kavali. In all the inland markets the bazars are insuffi- 

 ciently supplied, the amount of which in the fresh waters is said to have 

 considerably decreased. The minimum size of the mesh of nets given 

 is one-fourth of an inch. Fish are generally captured by means of nets, 

 fish-hooks, wire or baskets called ' Kodama/ fishing baskets termed 

 ' Uta/ and sometimes by breaking a fruit called 'Mangakaya', which 

 thrown into the water poisons them. Spearing is also resorted to. In 

 three talookas tanks are reported to be sometimes emptied to obtain the 

 fish. 



176. In the Bellary Collectorate, the tehsildars reply, generally 

 that the Boya are the fishing caste, but they 



Opinions of Native officials in have also other trades. The great majority, 

 the Bellary Collectorate. _ . . . . J / 



oi the people, with the exception ot the 



Brahmins and Komaties, eat fish, the demand for which in the markets 

 is always greater than the supply. Traps are reported as used. 



177. From the Tanjur Collector ate no 

 Tunjur Collectorate no answers, answers to the questions for Tehsildars have 



been forwarded. 



178. In the Trickinopoly Collectorate five Tehsildars answer, the 

 Mavilliars, Valayers, Abulkars, and Lubbays, 



Opinions of Native officials in besides h eing fishermen, more especially when 

 the Trichmopoly Collectorate. ' . J 



the water m the reservoirs are low, are also 



employed as agriculturists and palanquin-bearers. The Sembaders, 

 about 30 in number, in one talookas are stated to be exclusively fishermen. 

 All the people, except Brahmins and the followers of Siva, eat fish ; the 

 number in four talookas who do so is estimated at 557,682, and the fifth, 

 15-16ths of the population. In two, fish is indiscriminately eaten, whether 

 fresh or salted ; in two,, the fresh is preferred; in the remaining one the 

 salted article. In three the markets are stated to be insufficiently sup- 

 plied. The amount in the fresh waters has decreased in four districts, 

 and increased in one. The minimum size of the mesh of the nets em- 

 ployed is given as a grain of dholl in one, half an inch in another talooka. 

 Basket traps are used for taking fish, also baited pots. Poisoning the 

 water by means of the milk hedge is reported as obtaining in three of 

 the talookas, but is not resorted to in the other two. 



} 179. From the OiicldapaJi Collector ate no 



Cuddapah Collectorate, no angwers to the questions for Tehsildars have 

 answers. -i -t 



been forwarded. 



180. In the Kurnal Collectorate seven Tehsildars report that Bestas, 



Boyas, Telugus, most of the low caste 



Opinions of Native officials in Hindus and Mussulmen fish, but they also 



the Kurual Collectorate. , .. -n. i i i 



have other occupations, as agricultural labour- 

 ers, palanquin-bearers, &c. All the people, except Brahmins, Visyas, 

 Komaties, Linga Balijas, blacksmiths, carpenters; and a few others,, are 



