CV11 



bamboo baskets in streams and waste weirs of tanks ; small purse- shaped 

 nets are also employed. The minimum size of the mesh of the nets used 

 will not permit the smallest ones to escape. Fish are trapped in the irri- 

 gated fields during the rains. The modes of fishing are as follows ; by 

 nets, traps, hooks, cloths, and by hand ; by baskets of different shapes ; 

 by damming and draining off the water ; by shooting, striking with clubs, 

 with swords or choppers ; in short, by poaching practices of every kind, 

 as well as by fishing with rods and lines, and by poisoning the pools 

 until the fish float to the surface of the water. 



212. The Amildars of Coorg report that nearly all the ryots fish more 



or less, none are strictly fishermen, but 



^ Opinions of the Native officials these last are known as Boyees or Besturs 



(bearers). The bazars are insufficiently sup- 

 plied with fresh fish, but fully with dried ones from the coast. The price 

 of a seer (weighing 27J rupees) of large fish is two annas, of small ones 

 half an anna, of a seer of 'first sort of mutton (weighing 80 rupees) 

 6 annas, for second sort 5 annas. Three-fourths of the people eat fish. 

 During September, October, and November, large quantities of small 

 fish are captured, whilst the meshes of some of the nets are so small 

 as to allow only the water to pass through. During the rains breed- 

 ing fish are trapped in the irrigated fields. One mode of fishing pur- 

 sued is by throwing a jungle fruit about the size and shape of a 

 green walnut into the rivers and streams. The effect of this is to 

 stupefy the fish, and they come up to the surface and turn on their 

 backs, when they are easily caught. This practice has been strictly 

 prohibited, and is not now openly carried on. The nets are called 

 Cunneebale, Beesoobale, Jadibale, and Goribale, whilst the traps are 

 termed " Coolies" and " Podas." 



