INDIAN FISH AND FISHING. 5 1 



swallow the finny tribes head first, because, if they are 

 of the spiny-rayed forms, their spines are thus pushed 

 backwards, lie flat, and do not injure the creature which is 

 swallowing them. Were they taken in tail first, this would 

 erect the spines, and wound every animal which should 

 endeavour to swallow them. Doubtless some forms, while 

 in transit, wriggle themselves round, and get fixed in the 

 gullet of their captors, as the father-lasher of our coasts. 

 These reptiles are very prolific. Thus the overseer in 

 charge of the Narrage weir in Orissa, in the year 1869, 

 came across a brood, and within three hours shot sixty- 

 nine. When at this place I obtained a young one that had 

 become entangled by its teeth in a fishing net, and asked 

 the fishermen if they ever destroyed them. Astonishment 

 was depicted on their faces, and they protested against the 

 supposition that they had ever been guilty of such a mean 

 action. Their argument was that both classes belonged to 

 the fish-destroying races, therefore on the principle that 

 hawks do not pick out hawks' eyes, they consider it would 

 be wrong to cause their deaths. As to the destruction 

 they occasioned, they admitted it, but also observed that 

 they would do as much if they were able. It must not 

 therefore be hoped that fishermen will assist in clearing 

 rivers of these monsters ; neither will the native sportsman 

 throw away a single charge of powder and ball on such 

 unremunerative game, which he could not sell, and would 

 be unable to eat. 



The common crocodile, Crocodilus pahistris and C. 

 porosus, are found in most parts of India and Burmah. 

 These reptiles, although often termed man-eaters or snub- 

 nosed crocodiles, assist in depopulating the waters of fish, 

 and it has appeared to me that it is mostly when they find 

 an insufficiency in the finny supply and carrion that they 



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