16 INDIAN FISH AND FISHING. 



to this day can obtain fish by diving, the use of spears, or 

 shooting with bows and arrows ; these latter having the 

 shaft in two pieces attached together by a piece of string. 

 The upper end of the shaft is made of reed which will float 

 in the water, and as soon as the game is struck, the arrow 

 separates into two parts (these being connected by string), 

 and the fisherman obtains possession of the floating portion, 

 and thus secures his prey. Hooks and lines are used in 

 many places, and also artificial bait of the most primitive 

 description in imitation of flying fishes (Plate IV., Fig. 3), 

 and which is towed at the stern of boats when it is desired 

 to take seir and other large fishes. In many parts Crustacea 

 are scarcely fished for, except as bait for line fishermen ; in 

 other localities, as Cochin, Madras, Calcutta, and Burmah, 

 they are extensively captured. In taking crabs, an iron 

 hook is inserted into the cavities of rocks where they exist, 

 and by it they are removed. 



The sea fishermen belong to the servile class or Sudras, 

 according to the ancient legislators of Hindustan, and in 

 most parts of the coasts of India still maintain that they 

 were, in times now past, divided into two distinct classes — 

 (l) those who captured fish in the deep sea, or beyond 

 their own depth ; and (2) others who fished from the shore 

 and in the backwaters and creeks. But that now, owing to 

 the depressed condition of the fishing trade, the deep-sea 

 fishermen (except where salt is cheap or a good market 

 exists) have taken to the less expensive occupation of 

 plying their work in-shore, and earning a portion at least of 

 their living by engaging in other pursuits. In several parts 

 of India, more especially in the Madras Presidency, they 

 have customs of a patriarchal nature, but which are more 

 strictly observed on the Coromandel than on the western 

 coast. In Sind the fishermen termed Mohanees are a 



