WATERS OF WESTERN INDIA. 9 
river does not afford the alternation of rocky rapids and deep reaches ; 
wherein the Barrajute and its other favourite streams abound. 
; wae : : 
which is found in the hill 
streams of the western border, is probably not specifically identical. 
The small but sporting ‘‘ Mahseer,’ 
Indeed, I have reason to suspect that there are several species, but I 
have not fished those waters myself, nor have I any specimens 
to goon. I do not think that any Oreinus (mountain barbel) has 
yet been identified in Sind, But a careful and keen-eyed observer, 
who unfortunately was not an ichthyologist, reported “an unmistak- 
able trout” to me, as occurring in a stream on the east slope of the 
Kirthar Range, above the Mehar and Larkhana country. It seems 
probable that these may have been Oreini of the type known further 
north as “ Himalayan trout.” 
Without specimens before him, no testimony yet available will 
justify a naturalist in accepting an Indian species of Salmo. 
Amorgst the Labeos we find again an old acquaintance, Labeo 
rohita, which we parted with in the great east-flowing rivers of 
the Deccan plateau. : 
Here it is abundant, underthe name of “ Dumbro,” and ranks 
in the fish-trade of Sind second only to the “ Palla,’’ whereof more 
anon. In towns remote from the Indus it is the principal fresh fish. 
The “ Palla,” like all Clupeide, dies shortly after capture, and rots 
soon after death ; and here it is confined to the main stream, 
The “ Dumbro,” on the other hand, bears confinement in water 
well; and, even when dead, stands some time and transport. 
One of the chief ‘“‘Dumbro ”’ fisheries is at the head works of the 
Hastern Narra Canal, were what is called a “regulating bridge” (7.e- 
a bridge whose arches are sluices ofa rough sort) forms afall. I have 
already pointed out that the Indus, in Sind, has distrébutaries 
instead of tributaries (with the unimportant exception of what little 
water from the western Border hills may occasionally find its way 
in by the Aral). / 
A consequence of this is that when the annual inundation sets all 
large breeding fish on the run, their course up stream is towards the 
main river, not from it, as in waters turned right-side up, and so 
the “Dumbros” run up the Narra from their winter quarters in 
many a marsh and ‘ kolab.” 
At these headworks they find the fall, and what is worse, a lot of 
nets hung before it in rectangular timber frames, and as they leap at 
the obstacle they fall back into the nets. 
9 
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