GENERAL

FISH AND FISHARIES

Water resources.

The district is naturally endowed with good potential of water resources. It is traversed by five perennial rivers, the Wardha, the Wainganga, the Pranhita, the Indravati and the Godavari all measuring about 480 kilometers, and 14 small seasonal rivers and their tributaries. Besides these fluvial water, there are four reservoirs, Ghorajeri (2,413 acres), the Asola-Mendha (4,644 acres), the Nalleshwar (1,097 acres) and Nav Talao (1,000) acres). In addition, there are nearly, as many as, 12,000 tanks including the puddles known as "bodi", all varying considerably in their dimensions, but having a total water surface area of about 41,000 acres. Out of these, only 4,000 tanks are considered to be perennial and the rest are either short or long seasonal. Tahsilwise distribution of perennial tanks is as follows:

In consideration of the total water resources, the district occupies the second highest position in the State, next to Bhandara.

List of Fishes.

The important varieties of commercial fishes, occurring naturally in the water resources of the district, are as follows:

(1) CARPS

Family- Cyprinidae

(2) LOACHES

Family-Cobitidae

(3) CAT-FISHES

Family-Chriidae

Family-Saccobranchidae

Family-Siluridae

Family-Schileidae

Family - Bagaridae

Family-Sisoridae

 Bagarius bagarius (Ham.)                        Goonch, Bodh Masa

(4) KNIFE-FISHES

 Family-Notopteridae

Family- Clupeidae

 Gonialosa manmina (Ham.)                           Mackundi

(5) EELS

Family-Anguillidae

Anguilla bengalensis (G. and H.)                     Tamboo machli, Ahir

(6) GAR-PIKES Family- Belonidae

Xenentodon cancila (Ham)                             Bogla, Chacha, Mutra

(7) GRAY-MULLETS

Family-Mugilidae

Rhinomugil corsula (Ham.)                             Arvari

(8) SNAKE-HEADED FISHES OR MURRELS

Family- Ophicephalidae (Channidae)

(9) PERCHES AND THEIR ALLIES

Family-Mandidae

Nandus nandus (Ham.) Bhibsi, Dudar Machli Badis badis (Ham.)

(10) GLASS-FISHES

Family-Ambassidae

(11) GOBIES

Family- Gobiidae

Glossogobius giuris (Ham.)                             Kharpa, Bulla, Ghasara

(12) THE SPINY EELS

Family--Mastocembelidae

The bulk of the commercial catch from the rivers, reservoirs and deep tanks, comprise mainly murrels and catfishes which, although may he highly esteemed for flesh, are not economical from the point of view of fish-culture as they are highly carnivorous.

Fisheries activity.

Fishing for prawns, Macrobrachium malcomsoni in the perennial rivers forms an important feature of fisheries activity. The fishery is conducted during the period April-June, mainly at Sironcha on the Pranhita river where the catch is estimated to yield 10,000 kg. of prawns, and on a small scale at Bamani and Ghugus villages on the Wardha river, Naigaram, Kaleshwar, Somnar, and Konapatt on the Godavari river.

Fishing Gearand Craft.

The most common gear used for fishing is the cast net, locally called as Borjal. The other types of nets that are in vogue are (i) Pelania hand-net, (ii) Zapa, (iii) Tangad-a drag net, with a mesh varying from 3"-4" at different places in the district and (iv) Zorali-a type of a drag net. Netting for fish on larger scale is undertaken by fishermen by Ataki-gill nets, mostly in large reservoirs. Fishing by rod and line is also pursued by fishermen and is also employed by people interested in sport-fishing, mainly for murrels, using either live frogs or live fishes as suitable baits. Prawn fishing is mainly conducted by cast nets.

The material used for fabricating nets is cotton twine of different specifications. Some fishermen use nets of local hemp made from bark of plants. But in the recent years, the fisher-men have realised the better utility of synthetic fibres, such as nylon, terylene etc., and are progressively replacing cotton twine with synthetic fibres. These materials, being comparatively much costlier than cotton twine, the department encourages the replacement by giving proportionate subsidy to the fishermen.

Besides netting for fish, traps made of bamboo strips called Bende, are used as fixed contrivances in the form of funnel shapes, at the corners of the rice-fields, where water generally drains off, to catch small sized fishes. This type of fishing is mostly practised at Bhadrawati, Mul, Sindewahi and Warora.

The main craft (boat) that is used by the fishermen for fishing is locally called Donga, which is a dug-out canoe, costing about Rs. 200 or so. The Department of Fisheries has one boat, with an outboard engine, at Gadmoushi tank, to conduct deepwater fishing with the help of the members of the fishermen's co-operative society at Sindewahi.

Fishing Communities.

There are about 13,000 fishermen, of whom only 5,000 are principal workers, solely depending on fishing. They belong to the following sub-castes: -

(1) Dhoniar, (2) Bhoi, (3) Kewat, (4) Palewar Bhoi, (5) Bhanara, (6) Kahar, (7) Machhindra or Macchinde, (8) Bastala, (9) Bendore, (10) Zingo Bhoi and (11) Gadde Bhoi.

TOP