910 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII. 



at Black Bridge. Every effort should be made to locate the holt. The large 

 otter has also been seen in all the rivers on the Khundahs. 



The method of destruction usually employed is to place unbaited gins about 

 the holts. But there is an absence of sustained effort about the operations. 

 The warfare is carried on in a desultory manner in the trout country itself. The 

 real homes of the large otters are in the Mayor and Bhavani Valleys. If we can 

 strike a deadly blow at them in these places we shall not only conserve the 

 Mahseer much more effectively than we do at present, but we shall be in a posi- 

 tion effectively to cut off the stragglers that have wended their way to the plateau. 



Administration and Finance. — The total revenue accruing from license 

 fees has increased from Rs. 1,495 in 1912 to Rs. 3,400 in 1918. In the latter year, 

 leave to England was difficult to obtain and the number of licenses issued (517) 

 attained its maximum. 



In 1919, the revenue was Rs. 3,096-8-0 but Rs. 306-8-0 have to be deducted on 

 account of Mahseer licenses and compounding fees. 



The income from trout fishing alone may therefore be assumed to be rather 

 less than Rs. 3,000. On the other hand the expenditure, including expenditure 

 on carp and Mahseer, is approximately Rs. 7,000. Next year this will have to 

 be increased. The services of an Assistant Inspector or bailiff are required. 

 The Inspector also demands an increase of salary. Further no allowance has been 

 made for depreciation of the hatchery and ponds. Since the lamented death 

 of Mr. D. C. Wilson, there has been nobody to take his place as Director of Inland 

 Fisheries. The place will have to be filled. It is useless to expect continuity 

 of administration from ever shifting Collectors or Forest Officers, however ably 

 they may be assisted by their subordinates. It is not too much to maintain 

 that the cost of pisciculture on the Nilgiris should in future be nearer Rs. 10,000 

 a year than Rs. 6,000 or Rs. 7,000. The deficit after deducting income will be 

 Rs. 6,000 or Rs. 7,000. 



It may be urged that loss might be avoided by making over the fishing rights 

 to an Association. This would be a retrograde step. Both on the Palnis 

 and on the Nilgiris, private efforts have invariably been a failure in the 

 past. Instead of getting a season license for Rs. 100, the price would have 

 to be put up. Subscriptions would at once fall off. Further enhancements 

 would be necessary and the fishing Avould at length fall into the hands of a few 

 plutocrats. 



The question is complicated by the fact that it is not only trout, but mahseer, 

 carp and other fish which would have to be considered. The otter difficulty is 

 pre-eminently a problem relating to the Bhavani Valley. Disputes with the 

 Jenmidars of Malabar or the Forest authorities would be alwaj'-s a possibility. 



It may be argued that the law on the subject presents difficulties. Under 

 Madras Act 11 of 1879, it is only Government officers or the Police that can 

 demand the name and address of a poacher or accompany him to the police 

 station. 



Under the Forest Act (Madras Act V of 1882) fishing is regulated by rules 

 made by the Governor in Council. The Association would have no power to 

 frame such rules and could not break away absolutely from Government. In 

 the opinion of the Director of Fisheries, India Act IV of 1897 does not empower 

 Government to lease a fishery. 



Associations have proved a failure in the past. They would not be in a posi- 

 tion to command the services of scientists of the highest position. The cost of 

 licenses would rise to a prohibitive figure. There would be no continuity of 

 Administration. 



On the other hand, the Fishery Department (which is transferred) is not in a 

 position to increase its expenditure or to engage a trout expert. All that can 

 be done, therefore, is to continue the regime of the Collector assisted by the 

 Forest Officer and by experts from the Fisheries Department. 



