ESTUARY F1SBING IN WESTERN INDIA. 625 



hindrance and is taken in -about every 2 hours. In these circumstances, it is 

 a net with a large 6" to 9" mesh. 



When used in the Creek the two ends of this net require to be anchored; 

 The larger ones are 165' in length and at every 5| feet (or 1 " Wamb") a 

 float, called " Bhendi," is required. Along the bottom, stones are fixed as 

 sinkers. The net is about 10 feet in depth and has meshes which vary from 2" 

 to 6" according to size, and it is interesting to note that the weight of stones 

 along the bottom is regulated in accordance with the nature of the fish the 

 owner wishes to try to secure. If he is intent more particularly on ''Kawas " or 

 Bamin ( Polynemus plebeius) , the stones are of less weight, so that the net makes 

 a floating wall near the surface. If intent on "Jetara" or Nair fish (Lates 

 calcarifer), etc., the wall is made to sink to the boitom. Owing to the greater 

 size of the mesh, this is the least destructive of the nets used on this coast. 

 (See Photo D.) 



4. " Pagta" (<TRST-) Exactly similar to " Jal ", but on a smaller scale 

 and used in practically the same way at low tide only. The maximum mea- 

 surements are : — 



Length 100 feet. 



Depth 9£ " 



Size of mesh £" — 1" 



(c) Small Miscellaneous Nets. 



Photo E. 

 5. "Kandala" or " Vaura" (+U|o6|— ffcr.) Used more in the Thana 

 District. It is practically a repetition of " Para " on a very small scale. The 

 twine used is barely thicker than ordinary thread and the L meshes are pro- 

 portionately minute. (See Photo B.) 



