cv 



the tanks are low, fishermen employ a particular kind of basket, as well 

 as nets, the smallest size of the mesh of which is one-eighth of an inch 

 square. There would be no difficulty in regulating the size of the mesh, 

 and he proposes one-eighth of an inch for small fish, one inch for the 

 second kind, and from an inch and a half to two inches for the largest 

 size. As regards prohibiting the sale of the fry of fish scarcely any 

 objections exist, but some of the poorer classes will suffer by being pro- 

 hibited from selling it. 



207. The Deputy Superintendent of the Kolar District observes 



that breeding* and young 1 fish are des- 

 troyed to a great extent, "except in private 

 wells, where they are taken care of by the 

 owners. The principal times when young fish become destroyed are 

 when tanks overflow in the rains or dry up during the hot months. The 

 smallest size of the mesh of nets used is about one-twelfth of an inch. 

 As the tanks are shallow and periodically dry up, regulating the size of 

 the mesh of the nets is considered to be unnecessary. As regards pro- 

 hibiting for the first two months of the monsoon, the capture of breed- 

 ing fish in the hilly regions, he sees no objection to it " if arrange- 

 ments can be made to provide means of livelihood to those living 

 upon fishing solely/'' 



208. In the Nundidrug Division the reports of the Amildars are 



condensed. About two-thirds of the popula- 

 tion are stated to fish occasionally in addi- 

 tion to their other occupations. Nearly every 

 ryot keeps a net to be used as occasion or opportunity arises. The pro- 

 fessional fishermen are few in number, and all pursue other occupations, 

 except near Bangalur, where their time is well occupied in supplying 

 the large local demand. The Besturs, Palligars, Voklagars, and Tighurs 

 are the regular fishing castes. The local markets in proximity to large 

 reservoirs are fairly supplied, but the supply fails as reservoirs dry up ; 

 and except for large towns like Bangalur, or where there are the head- 

 quarters of a district, the people principally fish, for their own consump- 

 tion. Nearly all classes eat fish when they can procure it, or when it 

 happens to be cheap. The amount of fish depends upon the quantity 

 of water, as when the latter is plentiful, the fish multiply extremely 

 rapidly. The smallest size of the mesh of the nets is given at one- 

 sixteenth of an inch. During the rains the practice of trapping fish is 

 almost universal. Every form of net, snare, and basket are used, but 

 poisoning the water is never resorted to. 



209. In the Astragam Division the Amildars report that the 



amount of fishermen in the various talookas 

 * 36,448, but &&** i, not the only occupa- 

 tion of the number of people above enumerat- 

 ed, as they also engage in agriculture, commerce, etc. The fishermen 

 castes consist of Besturs, Thorayer and Oopaligur, as well as Mussulmen. 

 The markets of the talookas of Mysore, Chamrajnugger, Astragam, 

 Pariapatna, Heggadadevenkote, and Nanjengode are not fully supplied, 

 whilst those of Mallavelly, Gundlupete, Yedatori, and Muddur are 

 well supplied. The proportion of the fish-eating population is given at 

 above half (444,011 out of 756,041). In some places the fish have 



