26 INDIAN FISH AND FISHING. 



two sub-divisions of these people are named in accordance 

 with the villages from which they originally migrated. 



In native States, fish have obtained great consideration, 

 more so perhaps in ancient than in our own times. Thus 

 in Mysore, in the time of Hyder Ali, very stringent fishery 

 laws existed ; whereas, at the present day, about two-thirds 

 of the population of some divisions of the country occa- 

 sionally add fishing to their other occupations, nearly every 

 villager possessing a fish-net or trap, to be employed as 

 occasion or opportunity arises. Now fisheries are open to 

 all ; a fisherman's calling is no longer a profitable one, 

 mainly due to the fisheries being depopulated. When 

 whole districts were let to contractors, they were not 

 so short-sighted as to permit an indiscriminate destruction ; 

 but now everybody does as he likes, when he likes, where 

 he likes, and how he likes. Thus it has come to pass that 

 among the animal productions of India, fresh-water fish 

 meet with the least sympathy, and the greatest persecution, 

 many forms having to struggle for bare existence in rivers 

 which periodically diminish to small streams, or even 

 become a mere succession of pools, or in tanks from which 

 the water totally disappears. They have their enemies in 

 the egg stage, in their youth, and during their maturity ; 

 but among these man is their gretest foe, as anyone who 

 desires a fish diet captures these creatures whenever and 

 wherever he gets the chance, irrespective of season, age, and 

 size. In certain districts they simply appear to exist solely 

 because man and vermin have been unable to destroy them. 



Fisheries may be let to a contractor, and if their extent 

 is large he takes partners or sublets portions ; sometimes 

 he employs servants, who are paid partly in money, or food, 

 clothing, and lodging, and partly in a share of the captures. 

 In some districts the fisheries; or a portion of them, are 



