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accumulation is the chance which the fish poisoner waits foi\ He lowers into 

 the head of the pool his earthenware pot containing a decoction of poisonous 

 leaves, and then all that is necessary is to wade into the shallows at the end of 

 the pool and gather up the sickened and stupified fish which the current floats 

 down to him. It will readily be understood that when this sort of operation 

 is being carried on at a score of different points on a hill stream it is a matter 

 for wonder, not that there should be a decrease in fish, but rather that any 

 should remain. 



But perhaps even more destructive than the poisoner is the native who works 

 on the actual spawning grounds and nurseries for young fry. These are petty 

 streams in the little side valleys of the hills, The largest fish may be seen 

 forcing their way through the shallowest of water in order to reach some quiet 

 pool with shelving bank, which instinct tells them is the most desirable 

 spawning ground. These spawning fish, when the water is low and clear, 

 are generally secured by the men waiting for that purpose, either by 

 netting, clubbing, spearing, or poisoning. Some manage to escape, and may 

 accomplish the spawning operation successfully and even get back safely 

 to the main stream if a good spate happens to occur opportunely. To get 

 back when the stream is low and clear is almost impossible, for such small 

 streams are frequently dammed for either irrigation or power purposes. In 

 each case the water is compelled to pass through a narrow channel, and in this 

 will be placed a series of nets or large baskets, which render the passage of any 

 fish, large or small, out of the question. In baskets such as these myriads of 

 immature fry are captured, incalculable damage being thus done to the fishery 

 To those who have not seen the actual operations in progress the elaborate 

 methods of the professional fish slaughterer will appear almost incredible. It 

 is a very frequent practice, for instance, to turn aside a strtam altogether from 

 its natural course in order to leave all the fish below a certain point high and 

 dry or confined in petty pools, whence they are readily taken out. Not merely 

 fish and fry are thus captured, but millions of eggs are left out of the water, 

 and so never come to maturity. 



Another method of fish destruction is usually employed against the mahseer. 

 As is well known, this grand fish prefers the rocky rivers and streams at or 

 near the foot of the hills, and at one period of the year he ascends the rivers 

 in large numbers. With the coming of autumn, however, he begins to fall down 

 the streams towards the plains. Some fish, though what proportion is not 

 clear, are found far down in the sluggish water well away from the hills, but 

 a large number remain to hibernate in the deep, rocky pools just within the 

 hills. The term " hibernate " is used advisedly, as there is no doubt that, 

 as a rule, these fish pass the winter months at the bottom of these pools in a 

 more or less unconscious condition. The water at such times is usually very 

 clear, and shoals of monster mahseer may easily be seen from some vantage 

 point high above the stream. They lie close to the bottom, and even when 

 watched for hours, do not appear to move. A boat passing over them they 



