GENERAL

FISH AND FISHeRIES

Water Resources.—The district traversed by the river Wainganga and its tributaries, viz., Bagh, Chulband, Panjoli and Bawanthari, has a total length of nearly 500 kilometres of fluvial waters. The reservoirs, tanks and ponds have a total water-spread area of about 28,000 hectares, comprising nearly 14,000 units of water resources of variable sizes. Of these, 3,200 units with the water-spread area of about 6,000 hectares are under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad and 92 units with a water-spread area of about 8,000 hectares are under the jurisdiction of the State Government. Out of the remaining units, nearly 300 tanks, admeasuring about 6,320 hectares are brought under pisciculture, mostly by the owners, whereas the rest of the tanks and ponds are mainly used for irrigation of paddy fields by the owners, several of which have also been incidentally used for fish culture.

Besides, six large irrigation reservoirs enlisted in statement "A" and 50 small irrigation tanks each admeasuring approximately 40 hectares and above enlisted in statement "13" are under construction; these water resources are the future potentials for undertaking fisheries development in the district.

STATEMENT A
 

STATEMENT B

LIST OF TANKS EACH WITH WATER-SPREAD AREA OF 40 HECTARES AND ABOVE

Fish.—The major catch from the riverine resources comprises local fishes, viz., Tambir (Labeo fimbriatus), Wadis (Puntius tor), Kolshi (Puntius Kolus), Shivda (Wallago attu), Wagur (Clarius magur), Bodth (Bagarius bagarius), and Tamboo (Anguilla bengalensis). Prawn fishery, mainly of Macrobrachium malcolmsonii, constitutes an important fishery in the district. The total riverine fish catch of the district is nearly 100 metric tonnes per annum, of which prawn catches amount to nearly 10 metric tonnes.

The important species of fishes found in the district are mentioned below:

Craft and Gear:

Craft: The common craft that is used by most of the fishermen is a small boat known as a dug out canoe for catching fish in small tanks and rivers. Bigger boats of clinker type are also used for catching fish, in large tanks and reservoirs.

Gear: Common fishing gears, which are mainly used by the fishermen, are cast nets, drag nets and gill nets. Besides, there are other gears such as hand net, traps of bamboo strips, long lines and rods and lines.

Drag net: It is locally known as " Zorli". As the name suggests, the net is dragged in water and the fishes are caught. It is fabricated from cotton twine, having length of 5 to 10 metres, height of about 2-5 metres and mesh size varying from 1 cm. to 15 cm., depending on the size of the fish to be caught. In view of the durability of the synthetic twine, fishermen are now using nylon twine for the preparation of this type of net.

Cast Net: This net is locally known as "Bhowar jal". It is fabricated from cotton twine. When cast, it spreads circularly, and sinks because of the sinkers attached at the periphery. There are pouches, provided at the periphery, in which the fishes are caught. Sinkers are made of iron or porcelain on earthen beads.

Gill Net: It is locally known as "Atki Jal", and is used for catching fish in tanks and reservoirs. Gill nets are now being fabricated from the nylon twine of different counts and mesh size, depending on the size of the fish to be caught. Number of pieces, each ranging from 15 to 35 metres in length and 3 to 6 metres in breadth are joined together to make one gill net; this gear is mostly operated after sunset and hauled up early in the morning. This net is provided with a foot-rope bearing sinkers, and head rope bearing floats. Floats used are either made from synthetic material or wood of local trees, viz., Tejmal, Dhendhur, Dudhi, Rui and Deo Nali.

Methods for Prawn Fishing.— Baiting Prawns: Mixture of rice bran and oilcake is made into a dough; balls made out of this dough are put at several places in the river during the night time and these places are marked by floats. Prawns are attracted towards the bait for food and are caught next day by cast net, early in the morning.

Prawn Fishing with use of Lights: This method is carried out in the night hours. Petromax lamps are used for this purpose. Prawns come to shallower water for feeding. One fisherman slowly moves in water holding petromax and whenever prawns are sighted, other fishermen immediately put a basket on the sighted prawns. Prawns caught under the basket are then removed through a small opening at the top.

' Zaggi' Fishing for Prawns: Fishermen pile up 2-3 cart loads of twigs and bushes in deeper parts of the river and leave them undisturbed for one or two months. Alongwith this a rectangular trap of bamboo strips is immersed for giving shelter to prawns. After one or two months, the area is encircled by means of a cloth to which stones are fastened to the lower margin, so as to become an enclosure preventing the escape of prawns from underneath. The cloth above level of water-surface is folded and folds are held by the fishermen sitting in ' dongies ' or small conoes. A small meshed net is held around by small striks to prevent prawns jumping out of water. After setting this arrangement, 2-3 fishermen remove the twigs and bushes. Then the trap is lifted to remove prawns. Remaining prawns and fishes are caught by cast net. The whole operation lasts for 4-5 hours and about 8 to 10 fishermen are engaged in this operation.

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