CCXXX1 



such, being opposed to public prejudice, and due to the irritation it would 

 cause, although it is our duty to keep up the fish -supply if it can be done. 

 As to prohibiting the sale of the fry offish in the bazars, such could only 

 be carried out at head-quarters, and it would " interfere with the sensible 

 practice of storing tanks/' [I would here suggest that the fry of fish 

 sold dead in the bazars would hardly be adapted for this purpose, whilst 

 live fry for such a use need not be subjected to regulations.] " I am 

 told that natives, when recovering from sickness, eat the young fry as 

 being more delicate in flavour."" [This is curious conjoined with the 

 statements made elsewhere in India. In the Panjab, in the Multan 

 Division, it is a popular belief that fish used as food during the rains 

 occasion sickness (p. xxi) : in the Central Provinces (p. cxxi) that fish 

 eaten at such seasons are the reputed originators of disease.] "I 

 think that the supply is falling off, but very little, if at all, though 

 in the south of the district there is much more difficulty in procuring 

 fish than in the north." Fish are consumed by all classes, except 

 widows of respectable Hindus, and by a man here and there, who 

 objects to eat animal food on principle. The upper and middle classes 

 eat fresh fish, the poorer dried fish; some is dried in the north, 

 but salted in the south of the division. f< During the cold season 

 live fish are exported to Calcutta, though this trade is said to have 

 fallen off owing to the opening of the Eastern Bengal Railway. Dried 

 and salted fish are exported to Chittagong in considerable numbers." 

 Young fish that have been reared in tanks are eaten on great occasions 

 in the family, as marriage feasts, saradks, &c. " I do not think that con- 

 servation is absolutely necessary here : it would be very difficult to 

 enforce, and would cause a very great deal of discontent, while it seems 

 hardly sufficiently justified by necessity. That is to say, I would not 

 interfere with net or trap fishing, but I think I would prohibit the use 

 of fixed engines, such as bamboo screens and fences in the bed of any 

 river, Mai, or water channel. Such a mode of catching fish might fairly 

 be put down, while the obstructions are a serious nuisance to passing 

 boats." 



407. The Officiating Commissioner of Dacca (October 4th, 1872) 



replies : " East Bengal, of which this division 

 Opinion of European Officials fo ^ chief t j g noted for j gup . 



of Dacca, and Dr. Bose. ,. n , T r T . * 011.1 j ^ i_ 



plies of fish. In Dacca, Sylhet, and Cachar, 



the supply is supposed to be falling off, but not to such an extent as to 

 interfere with the ordinary consumption of the people. The causes of 

 this diminution are alleged to be exsiccation of bheels, tanks, and other 

 water-courses, reckless destruction of the fry of fish, passing and 

 re-passing of steamers, which are said to drive the river fish to distant 

 quarters, &c. In Backergunge, Mymensing, and Furreedpore, no dimi- 

 nution is reported or supposed to exist." Fifteen-sixteenths of the 

 population may be set down as fish consumers. Fish is salted or 

 dried for home consumption or export, and largely exported to Calcutta 

 and elsewhere by rail or boats. " Everybody in this district, after 

 digging a tank, puts in small fish and fry of various species to be reared, 

 and in every district the number of such tanks is innumerable. Fish 

 is, besides, to be found in abundance in the several rivers, canals, Iheels 

 and other water-courses with which every district abounds. Under 



