CXXX11 



283. The Collector of Si tap ar says, young fish are caught, but not 



to any great extent ; they are taken by dam- 

 f the C llector f ming in the smaller streams during the dry 



weather, and in irrigated fields during the 

 rainy season. The minimum size of the mesh of nets employed is about 

 a quarter of an inch ; no difficulty exists in regulating its size, which 

 might be fixed at one inch. He opposes altogether prohibiting the sale 

 of the fry of fishes, observing " no real harm is done by catching 

 young fish in tanks, jhils, or irrigated fields, for these fish, if left alone, 

 would never find their way back to the river/-' Captain Thompson, in 

 1868, reported from this place " fishing goes on at all seasons of the year, 

 and there can be no doubt that in the small rivers and tanks the supply 

 would be materially increased by a short ' close time/ Still I hardly 

 think that the protection is necessary in the large rivers. But the narrov 

 and shallow streams of this district can be well nigh cleared of fish with 

 the net, and the supply is scanty in consequence. In such rivers the pro- 

 tection of the spawning fish would, no doubt, have a very good effect." 



284. The Collector of Hardui reports, breeding and very young fish 



are destroyed without discrimination and to 

 Hardu,. Op,p,o n of Collector. 



and baskets in jhils, tanks, and rivers at all seasons, but in greater 

 quantity during the rainy season, and especially at its close. The 

 smallest size of the mesh of nets employed is one-sixth of an inch. 

 Traps are also used to collect fish of the smallest size, and are made of 

 reeds. Were it politic, there would be no difficulty in regulating the 

 size of the mesh of nets, but as he does not consider such a time has 

 arrived, he refrains from suggesting what size of meshes he should 

 consider advisable in his district. When fish are scarce in " hilly 

 districts, and as well elsewhere, there appears to be no objection against 

 prohibiting their capture for a limited period when they are breeding." 

 The Settlement Officer of Hardui in 1868 complained that there " is no 

 close season for fish here ; they are caught every day of the year. 

 Further, the meshes of the nets are made of any size, and occasionally 

 fish are intoxicated or half-poisoned by a jungle fruit termed mainpam 

 but this can only be done in still water, ponds, and the like. Some 

 land-owners preserve fish and guard them, but the bulk of the proprietary 

 bodies certainly do destroy fish wantonly. They take every fish they 

 can catch at all seasons, whether the females are breeding or not, and 

 whether the males are what is called ' spent fish/ or are in full condition." 

 285. The Collector of Eai Bareli considers the destruction of all 



sorts of fish as considerable, the principal 

 f ollector f Eai season for fishing being in the hot weather 



and during the rains. In the former the 

 big fish are mostly trapped ; during the latter the smaller fish are mor< 

 extensively caught than at other seasons of the year. The smallest siz< 

 of the mesh of nets employed is from a quarter to one-third of an inch. 

 The difficulties in regulating the size of the mesh of the nets consists in tl 

 natural dislike and prejudice of the rustic population against any innovf 

 tion whatever in the implements for carrying on their craft, so he deprecate 

 such, and gives no opinion as to what size he considers advisable. 

 The fry of fish, he observes, are not sold separately from the fish i 



