628 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. 



position, one of which, in the Revdanda Creek, realises within my knowledge 

 only Rs. 30 to 40 for 8 months' right to use the " Bhoksi". This low price 

 alone shows how poor the fishing has become, particularly when it is recollect- 

 ed that about 100 yards of splendid water is covered. (See photos G & H.) 



III. — Specific instance of decay. 



1. The Savitri river rising in the vicinity of the Mabableshwar Range and 

 flowing through the Mahad Taluka and Janjira territory, empties itself into 

 the sea at Bankot. This river or Creek is tidal as far as Mahad, 30 miles from 

 its mouth, and there is evidence to show that the fishing industry along its 

 banks was. at one time, of considerable importance. There are, to start with, 

 several fishing settlements along its length to-day, terminating in the one at 

 Dasgaon. Being, as I have said, very interested in the question of estuary 

 fishing, I made enquiries as to the state of the Creek in this respect, and very 

 soon learnt that, from a fisherman's standpoint, this enormous stretch of 

 water is now. let us call it, a " Paradise Lost". One has only to turn to 

 the settlement at Dasgaon itself, to see that the families have almost 

 abandoned fishing and taken up cultivation instead. I learnt that the de- 

 crease in the fish supply has become more and more apparent during 

 the last S or 10 years. There are, to the best of my knowledge, 2 

 factors alone which have contributed to the bringing about of this deplorable 

 result. The first of these is the reckless netting with meshes small enough to 

 catch fry an inch in length (I have, alas ! seen them of this length at Dasgaon) 

 which has gone on no doubt unchecked for generations, and the second is per- 

 haps the partial silting up, more particularly of the mouth of the Creek, 

 brought about by the almost complete denudation of the hills along its entire 

 length. This latter cause, however, cannot be said, I think, to play a very 

 important part in the diminution complained of, in so far as true migratory 

 fish are concerned, for the reason that Shepherd's steamers are still just able 

 to get into Bankot at high tide, and where they go large fis=h can follow.* 

 Here we, therefore, have an instance of partial extermination of all kinds of 

 fish on a scale large enough to warrant especial attention, while making all 

 allowance for possible misrepresentation and consequent error in deduction on 

 my part. 



2. I have now to refer to the decrease of several species of fish in every 

 Creek of the Kolaba District, and the remarks probably apply to the Konkan 

 generally, if not to the coast of Western India as a whole. There are several 

 species of fish which, as far as is known, never leave the Creeks at all,, and 

 there are many which habitually ascend (a) either at certain times of the year 

 or (b) with more or less regularity all the year round. In my list of fishes, 

 later on, I have made an effort to differentiate broadly between migratory and 

 resident fish, helped by the best local knowledge procurable. In this former 

 class is to be included the fish " Bamin " (Polynemus plebeius) rendered more 



* Note. — Shepherd's steamers have, 1 hear, quite recently ceased going into Bankot, the 

 bar being considered no longer safe. 



