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PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION FOR INDIAN FISHERIES, 



By 



E. Comber. 



The interesting paper on the Estuarine Fisheries of the Konkan that we 

 have had contributed by Mr. Wallinger tempts me to rescue from what is 

 probably, by this time, well nigh oblivion, au article that appeared in the 

 Field of 2nd and 9th May 1903 over the initials "W. M." on the Inland 

 Fisheries of India, in the hopes tbat by doing so it may possibly give the nail 

 another tap on the head towards driving it home, and assist thereby in forcing 

 the Government of India to realise its duties to the industries of the country 

 by seriously undertaking the very needful legislation for the protection of one 

 that is of the most importance to the population as a whole. 



Let me admit that I am entirely ignorant of the identity of the author of this 

 article ; but I believe that all who read it will admit that he at any rate had 

 studied, and thoroughly understood, his subject. That it is nearly forty years 

 since Dr. Day was specially deputed to draw up a scheme with a view to insti- 

 tuting special and necessary legislation for the better protection of the fisheries 

 of the country, is surely proof enough that what was recognised as of sufficient 

 importance then has not yet been done in even an unsatisfactory and tentative 

 manner. 



It is to be sincerely hoped that whenever Government are aroused to take 

 in hand this question they will be able to see their way to do so in a more 

 complete and satisfactory manner than was the case with the so-called " Game 

 Laws," which are now nominally in force, and was also the case when the 

 Fisheries Act of 1897 was made law. 



THE INLAND FISHERIES OF INDIA. 



I.— Destructive Agencies. 

 There are few problems of greater interest and importance awaiting treat- 

 ment in India at the present time than the question of the inland fi.-heries of 

 that country. This problem found no place on Lord Curzon's published list 

 of questions demanding early treatment, but there is reason to hope that the 

 further experience of India which the Viceroy has now gained will have 

 convinced him of the necessity of moving in the matter. It is true that 

 already Lord Curzon has performed three times his allotted task, and that 

 there yet remain for him many serious and far-reaching reforms. But, on the 

 other hand, it may be urged that the question of the fisheries is far more 

 important than has hitherto been recognised, and that the need for early 

 action in the matter is very real. For more than thirty years the question 

 has been merely nibbled at by the Indian Government, and throughout that 

 time a marked progressive deterioration in the fi\h supply of Indian waters 

 has been noted by competent observers. Yet it is the case that very little 

 of a practical nature has been done during all that time. If the question 



