48. Methods of catching wild fowl, herons and other water 



birds in the Panjab, Sindh, and Kashmir* 



F 



By Lt,-Colonel D. C. Phillott, Secretary^ Board of Examiners. 



Indian methods of catching wild fowl are many and inge- 

 nious. In the large jheels and lakes of tlie Punjab and Sindh, most 

 of the duck that find their way to the market are caught by- 

 means of a net laid in shallow water, a priraitire form of the 

 clap-nets of English bird-catchers. In India, however, the net is a 

 single one, laid out and worked as detailed below. For duck, the 

 bait is merely gram strewn on the water, but for herons and storks 

 a small tank is made within the limits of the net, the tank 

 being stocked with small fish. On a dark night jackals may steal 

 in and devour the fish. 



In Kashmir herons are, in winter, snared for their plumes, by 

 a method that seems peculiai' to the valley. The plumes are worn 

 by the Maharaja as a pagri-omament, and also at weddincrs by 

 bridegrooms, Muslim and Hindu. Theoretically herons are pre- 

 served, so before a wedding a bridegi'oom has to be granted 

 special permission to snare a fixed number, permission being grant- 

 ed on condition that he plucks out the plumes from the live birds 

 and then releases them. However, Kashmiris I have questioned, 

 have all admitted tliat herons are not bad eating. 



Fig. I. 



N^ET FOR Catching Herons, Ducks, ktc. 



A 

 A 



A 

 G 

 A 

 A 



principal peg. 

 to B— 24 ft. 

 to l- — 5 ft. 

 to H — 14 inches, 



^^^J6ft.4in. 



toP 



TOIL LINE 



E to C 



F to D 

 B to m 

 C to m 

 D to m 



19 ft. 7 in. 

 3 ft. 6 in. 

 D ft. 8 in. 



}^-Q7E.— The uprights GE, I£F are inclined toivards A, hot BC, BD are at 

 right angles to the line AB. 



