ESTUARY FISHING IN WESTERN INDIA. 631 



of the weight or size of the various fish, when mature, varies in some cases 

 from that given by Day. Usually the difference is not great, and where it is 

 so, it is to be hoped, that it may not be considered very presumptuous on my 

 part to deviate from so great an authority. Weights must vary, after all, in 

 various localities, under varying conditions. As to the question of the precise 

 habits of any species, it has not been possible for me to learn much. I find 

 that in the fundamental questions as to whether a given fish in the list is 

 strictly migratory or practically resident, that my independent information 

 fortunately agrees, in the main, with Dr. Day. 



Perhaps the most remarkable and striking thing about this list is the very 

 large variety of large migratory and resident fish, which our Konkan estuaries 

 are shown to hold. It contains as many as 8 separate species which are locally 

 known to grow to over 40 lbs. and I have already said that this list is not quite 

 complete. There are 8 species which attain 6 lbs. and over. This catalogue 

 of fish capable of growing to a great size, if given the opportunity, cannot but 

 be looked upon with satisfaction. It means that the estuaries can be kept 

 filled — aye to over-flowing— with sizable fish, with reasonable forethought. 

 in a surprisingly short space of time. Some of the migratory fish appear to 

 ascend the Creeks for the sole object of spawning. At any rate, their stay is 

 of very short duration, and is usually restricted to the mi nth of July. 



Others, it has already been shown, ascend and descend with considerable 

 regularity irrespective of the operation of spawning. It is conceded, as an 

 undoubted fact, that large fish when about to spawn "will seek, by instinct, small 

 water in order, as Thomas aptly says, " to suit the puny strength of their tiny 

 fry." Thus it is that during the rains the rice fields bordering on the creeks are 

 considered by these poor misguided, but helpless creatures, as the very thing for 

 their requirements. They little realise the complete nature of the trap in 

 which they have securely left their progeny. The bamboo cruives at the outlet 

 of practically every rice field are so well known that I have not even considered 

 it necessary to prepare a model. I cannot help adding here, what will be evi- 

 dent presently, that the use of this form of fixed engines was prevented by 

 legislation, in parts of England, as long ago as the 15th century. How the 

 natives of this country can be so short sighted as to permit this dreadful folly 

 to-day, passes all comprehension. Thus, not only are the fry which escape 

 into, and are hatched in the Creek itself slaughtered, but those in their natural 

 breeding grounds. The presence of great numbers of fry of the larger fish in 

 the larger waters of the Creeks themselves is capable, it appears to me, of a 

 perfectly logical and simple explanation. Many a large female with her mate 

 ready to spawn is not able, at present, to make her passage up to the shallows 

 without obstruction. If they both successfully evade the various fixed engines 

 set for their capture they can often have but little time to carefully select 

 their ground for the operation. And thus it is that the ground chosen, being 

 often unsuitable, the fry are washed down into the main creek at sprii.g tides 

 or during the frequent heavy floods, and are killed there instead. 



