CXXX1 



pours into the fields, but not ( I believe) in merely irrigated fields." 

 " The smallest size of the mesh of the nets employed is about one- 

 third of an inch between knot and knot." "Fishing- is carried on in 

 rivers from boats by casting and dragging nets, spears, lines, rods, and 

 hooks ; in village ponds andjhils, in the months of Jeth and Baisakh, by 

 hands, the water being first mudded by gangs of from 50 to 60 men. 

 Large fish are sometimes killed by lathis. The Talukdar of Deogam 

 states that drains full of water are sometimes enclosed on both sides, and 

 powders obtained from a poisonous wild fruit named " Bistend or 

 Kuhar" thrown in. A channel is then cut to receive fresh- water in the 

 enclosed drain, so as to save the fish from wholesale destruction. The 

 large fish get disturbed ( intoxicated or poisoned) and float, when people 

 beat them on the bead with lathis or catch them with their hands/' But, 

 he adds, the fish taken in this manner are not good to eat. The principal 

 implements of fishing are detailed as follows : 1, Khancha (a sort of 

 basket net); 2, Tap; 3, Mahi ; 4, Pukhai (for small fish) ; 5, Chatbri ; 

 6, Chilwar; 7, Laga; 8, Tappura; 9, Dudhi ; 10, Kurail; 11, 

 Chutur; 12, Ganj ; 13, Bhukha; 14, Palni ; 15, Chitta (for large 

 fish); 16, Unghi; 17, Jhagri; 18, Lukia. 



280. The Collector of Lucknow reports, " the tanks and rivers 



are netted without restriction throughout 



CoUector' pini n ^ ^ the ^ ar ' and necessarily fish, breeding or 



not breeding, big or small, are taken as 



they come to the net. The greatest destruction takes place just 

 before the" end of the cold season when the tanks are drying up. 

 There is no restriction as to the size of the mesh of the nets ; the 

 smallest size employed is about a quarter of an inch, but regulating 

 it in any locality would be objectionable until there existed a well 

 ascertained want for the passing of such a measure, as all unnecessary 

 interference with the people is to be deprecated/'' Still, he continues, 

 one-inch regulation between knot and knot of the meshes of the 

 nets seems to be really necessary. The objections advanced against 

 prohibiting the sale of the fry of fish in the bazar are ignorance 

 of the ordinary Policemen, who, being allowed to interfere with the 

 fish-hawkers, would find in such a law a means of extortion, besides being 

 unable to discriminate between fry and adult fish. 



281. The Collector of Unas reports, very small fishes are destroyed 



during the rains, and cultivators use them 

 ^Unas. Opinion of the Collec. ag manure> The sma H e st size ^ of the 



mesh of nets is one-sixth of an inch; no 



lifficulty existing regulating such, and one inch between knot and 

 mot he considers advisable. If the sale of the fry of fish in the 

 oazar is prohibited/both owners and fishermen, it is considered, will 

 suffer. 



282. The Collector of Bar a BanJci considers that breeding and 



young fish are not killed to any great extent ; 

 $ Opinion of Collector of Bara any which are destroyed are those got in 



tanks. Three-quarters of an inch is the 



smallest mesh of nets employed ; no difficulty exists in regulating such, 

 ind he proposes three-quarters of an inch as the legal size. No fish 

 ire brought for sale in the bazars. 



