FISHING INDUSTRY OF KRIAN AND KURAU, PERAK. IOg 



for a port clearance, whenever their tongkangs, laden with fish 

 for export, leave the port, and they have to pay annually for 

 the numbering of each large pukat boat 80 cents, for a small 

 ditto 45 cents, and the large and small sampan kotas are 

 charged the same. For the numbering of tongkangs 81.30 

 is charged. They also have to pay Si for the cost of number- 

 ing of each blat or jerumai. They are also charged 10 cents 

 per foot frontage (Land Revenue) for their houses. I should 

 think this, on an average, would come to about §2 per annum 

 per house. This was imposed from January 1st, 1S86, and 

 they think it very hard that they should be charged town 

 allotment fees for occupying a part of the useless mud bank 

 of the river. 



As regards the payment of one-tenth of the value of 

 the fish to the farmer, they state that they have come to an 

 arrangement with the farmer, by which they pay him Si. 40 

 per month for each pukat lengkon* instead. If the farmer 

 did this from pure philanthropy it was very good of him; per- 

 haps he came to the conclusion that, if he claimed his full 

 pound of flesh, he would kill the goose that was laying the 

 golden eggs. 



It appears that, previous to December, 1885, no licen- 

 ses were imposed on nets and fishing stakes in the district, 

 though in Larut fishing-stake licenses seem to have been 

 imposed since 1880, but no fishing-net licenses until last year. 

 In that month, however, the Assistant Resident (Mr. Creagh) 

 issued the order, which I have marked A, annexed, and which was 

 issued as a notice by the Magistrate and Collector, Dr. Leech. 

 The fishermen of this district (and I believe of other districts 

 as well) petitioned against it, with the result that the order 

 was suspended for further consideration, and, after much de- 

 liberation, extending over nearly a year, during which period 

 no payments for licenses at all were imposed, the Assistant 

 Resident issued the new order dated 1st October, 1887, which 

 I have marked B. 



The following table will show the difference between the 

 old and new rules: — 



