

CX11 



Government would sanction the repairs. They might easily be stocked 

 with fish. Both breeding fish and small fry are caught without any 

 regard to size and in great numbers at all seasons, and until some laws 

 are passed nothing will prevent it. Hooks are used, also netting, poison- 

 ing, and damming of streams and small pools where the water is sluggish 

 or stagnant. The nets vary in size; casting ones are generally used, and 

 sometimes several are joined together to stop up a stream, whilst other 

 casting nets are employed above the obstacle. The meshes may be said 

 to be as small as can possibly be produced; no objections exist to regulat- 

 ing the size of these meshes, which is most desirable. One inch from 

 knot to knot would not be too small. Objections do not exist to prohibit- 

 ing the sale of the fry of fish in the bazars, laws for which must be framed 

 and breaches of them punished. 



234. The Deputy Commissioner of Amraotee District remarks that 



breeding fish and young ones are destroyed 

 ,; n nl Am" P * to a considerable extent ; that the smallest size 



of the mesh of the nets is from one-eighth 



to half an inch ; that no difficulties exist against regulating it, except 

 that he believes people who gain a precarious livelihood thereby will jpar- 

 tially starve ; that meshes of nets should not be below an inch ; that 

 no objections exist to prohibiting the salt of the fry of fish in bazars, 

 but if the fishermen might not bring the fry of fish for sale, they would 

 retain them for home consumption, and it would be very difficult to en- 

 force any prohibitory order. 



235. The Officiating Deputy Commissioner, Ellichpoor District, says 



that it is believed breeding fish and very 

 Opinion of th e Deputy Com- 

 missioner, Ellichpoor. J oun S ones are destroyed to a great extent 



by means of fine nets, poisoning the waters, 



and by basket weirs used at all seasons except the height of the monsoon. 

 The great majority of the smallest sized nets are one-third of an inch in 

 mesh, but there are even smaller, whilst there are no difficulties against 

 regulating the size, and the only objection against prohibiting the sale 

 of the fry of fish in the bazars would be lessening the livelihood of the 

 fishermen. 



236. The Deputy Commissioner of tJie Woon District reports that 



breeding fish and very young ones are not 

 mi n er, n woon P * destroyed to any great extent, because there 



is not much fishing carried on, but nets with 



small meshes are used in rivers and tanks during the monsoon. The small- 

 est size of the mesh used is three-eighths of an inch, and there would be 

 no difficulty in issuing orders regulating it, except in seeing them obeyed. 

 The meshes should have one inch between knot and knot. As regards 

 prohibiting the sale of the fry of fish, orders should be issued, and 

 precautions taken against catching them ; therefore the prohibition of 

 sale would as a matter of course result. 



237. The Tehsildar of Akola places the number of fishermen 



within his range at 1,480 ; they belong to the 

 Akr " a ' Bhoee and sub-divisions of that caste. The 



local markets are not fully supplied with fish ; 



it is a luxury, and a large amount could be sold. Its cost is very uncer- 

 tain owing to the limited supply. It is difficult to say what is the 



