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months of March to June, breeding-fish full of roe are extensively caught 

 by means of the nets in ordinary use. From July to September, young 

 fry are caught, but they are not specially fished for in this district ; in- 

 deed, in talabs belonging to private parties, I am informed that special 

 care is taken not to destroy the fry at this season, but that frequently these 

 talabs are replenished with young fry caught in the rivers. (3) The 

 smallest size of mesh used is so small as to arrest the most diminutive fry/' 

 If the minimum size of the mesh employed is fixed, complaints are 

 anticipated, but no objections are knosvn against prohibiting the sale 

 of fry in the bazars. The Collector of Ghazeepur (February 9th, 1872), 

 being only new to the district, considered it better to forward a memo- 

 randum submitted by Mr. Joseph Smith, Deputy Collector, who reported 

 as regarding whether there is any great destruction of breeding-fish 

 and fry ? "I believe this question must be answered in the affirmative. 

 I cannot say that the destruction is greater or less than in any other 

 district, but I have seen very young fish destroyed in very large num- 

 bers. I have seen baskets-full of fry carried past the Gara Bazar on 

 many occasions, containing very small fish, an inch or 1^ inches long, 

 and have little doubt a good proportion of these would be absolutely 

 wasted from the want of purchasers or consumers. What were left 

 would be thrown out as refuse ; it is stated that fish are recommended 

 as a manure for vines. As for breeding-fish, I do not think the slightest 

 attention is paid to the season in which they are caught. A native fisher- 

 man would not hesitate to catch fish in whatever condition it was, 

 provided he could sell it or eat it." They are taken " in every 

 manner, wherever possible, and at all times. I have seen hundreds 

 caught with a small hand-net on the banks of the Ganges in front of 

 my own house. Many basket-nets are used in irrigation channels and 

 the outlets of jkils, &c." Difficulties are considered to exist in regulat- 

 ing the minimum size of the mesh of nets, due to the " prying it would 

 entail into the houses of those who kept nets, and the untrustworthy 

 character of the subordinate native agency through which it would 

 have to be done. It would open another door to bribery, which it would 

 fee impossible altogether to prevent, and hard to detect and check. 

 I would have no net less than 1 i inches between knot and knot. Pro- 

 hibiting the sale of fry in bazars would be an interference with trade, 

 as there must be a demand to cause a supply; but this objection loses its 

 weight in this case, where a valuable source of good wholesome food 

 is being des f royed wantonly, or at least becoming scarce. Close seasons, 

 it is considered, could not be effectually carried out." " There is no 

 doubt crocodiles destroy large quantities of fish, and might themselves 

 be destroyed with very little trouble. A small reward would cause the 

 production of numbers of egg-s, and a larger one would result in the 

 destruction of many of the mature reptiles."" As regards who eat fish ? 

 " With two exceptions I can hear of no class or race of the inhabitants 

 of this district that does not use fish as food. Brahmins, Rajputs, and 

 all classes are allowed to eat it, that is, they may if they like, and 

 would not be turned out of caste for so doing. The two exceptions are 

 (1) Bhaguts, and similar persons who are under a vow ; and (2) Agur- 

 wala Baniahs. I was surprised to hear that these latter are prohibited 

 from eating fish, and must confess 1 never heard it before, and I cannot 



