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Fishing is probably oldest and one of the important activity of humankind. Ancient remains of spears, hooks and fishnet have been found in ruins of the Stone Age. The people of the early civilization drew pictures of nets and fishing lines in their arts (Parker 2002). Early hooks were made from the upper bills of eagles and from bones, shells, horns and thorns of plant. Spears were tipped with the same materials, or some times with flints. Lines and nets were made from leaves, plant stalk and cocoon silk. Ancient fishing nets were rough in design and material but they were amazingly, as if some now use (Parker 2002). Literature on the indigenous fishing practices is very scanty. Baines (1992) documented traditional fisheries in the Solomon Island. Use of the herbal fish poisons in catching fishes from fresh water and sea documented from New Caledonia (Dahl 1985). John (1998) documented fishing techniques and overall life style of the Mukkuvar fishing Community of Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu, India. Tribal people using various plants for medicinal and various purposes (Rai et al. 2000; Singh et al. 1997; Lin 2005) extends the use notion for herbal fish stupefying plants. Use of the fish poisons is very old practice in the history of human kind. In 1212 AD King Frederick II prohibited the use of certain plant piscicides, and by the fifteenth century similar laws had been decreed in other European countries as well (Wilhelm 1974). All over the globe, indigenous people use various fish poisons to kill the fishes, documented in America (Jeremy 2002) and among Tarahumara Indian (Gajdusek 1954). An ecological niche refers to the way in which a species utilizes the resources of its environment and its relation to other species in the biological community. In biological community, no two coexisting species share the same niche. Similarly, no two coexisting castes have the same traditional niche in rural India; their niches are so differentiated as to preempt excessive competition for the same resources (Gadgil 2001a). The concept of the ecological niche has been used in a number of ways in anthropology: as a specialized part of human society, as synonymous with culture, and as a segment of the habitat (Donald 1972). Indian society is an agglomeration of several thousand endogamous groups or castes each with a restricted geographical range and a hereditarily determine mode of subsistence. These reproductively isolated castes may be compared to biological species, and the society thought of as a biological community with each caste having its specific ecological niche (Gadgil and Malhotra 1983). =Material and method= The study mainly includes direct observation and measurements of the fishing instruments, individual and group discussions and observation of the fishing event in the field. =Result and discussions= All fishing techniques observed, can be divided into following heads for the sake of the study, 1. Traditional fishing instruments, 2. Herbal fish stupefying plants and 3. Miscellaneous – Night fishing == Traditional fishing instruments == Many of these are mainly made up of bamboo at Mendha and from synthetic material at Khursa. Following types of indigenous fishing instruments has been documented from both villages, 1. Dhiri 2. Kurjar 3. Dhundka 4. Garri (Hooks) 5. Dandoor 6. Zinka 7. Gappa 8. Joka (Deep, lift Net) 9. Kotra 10. Koturli 11. Tangad 12. Pandi 13. Ghan Bhor Ja 14. Motha Bhor Jar 15. Pelni 16. Zoruli 17. Atki (Gill net) 1 Dhiri Reported from Mendha, this is a rectangular trap of bamboo sticks (Locally called Kaduhu) interwoven by nylon threads (Initially instead of nylon threads fiber made up of Boyal tree were in use). This is passive method of fishing. Virtually this trap operate on ‘funnel’ or ‘maze’ principle, with fish passing easily through an entrance hole, but being confused by the blind endings within the trap and being unable to find their way out. The dimensions of box vary as per need, but standard size is 2.5 feet to 5 feet long, 0.5 to 1 feet wide and 1 to 1.5 feet high. This structure has 2 to 3 doors on both sides. The entrances or doors are very specialized structures, work as one-way valves, due to this valve fish can enter inside but cannot escape. The diameter of the doors is 2.5 cm wide, so that fish of this much of size can only be caught. Dhiri set in running water generally in night. The setting of the Dhiri is laborious work and needs about 1 hour time. This can only set in at least 0.5 feet deep water (so that water level should be slightly above the door) with the help of rope, mud and branches of the trees. Fishes moving along with stream of water enters into the doors. About 1 kg to as much as 10 kg live fishes can be caught without any physical damage. Another morning or after 4 to 5 hours fishes can be collected from the upper hole. Interestingly some time water snakes are also caught in the Dhiri. (Illustrated in plate 9.1) 2 Kurjar Reported from Mendha, this is active method of the fish trapping. Kurjar is a dome of Bamboo (Shape just like satellite antenna disc) made up of 12 bamboo sticks (Locally called Kurjar Guta) arranged in circle and tighten to each other with the help of rope. To these sticks, nylon mesh is tightly attached (Initially instead of nylon threads fiber made up of Boyal tree were in use). Mesh size measured 15 X 15 mm at lower wide end and 20 X 20 mm towards rear end. After assembly, circumference of the dome becomes 21.5 feet and height becomes 130 cm. Its application is very interesting, during monsoon flood when the shoal of migrating fishes seen by knowledgeable individual, running from the bank into river Kurjar drop on migrating fishes. Fishes trapped under Kurjar collected by hand. Observation during its application reveals that it was not much effective; as it is very much time consuming compared with the low yield. To use Kurjar it is important to have knowledge about the migratory behavior of the fishes. (Illustrated in plate 9.2) 3 Dhundka Dhundka is reported from Mendha. This is very simple structure exclusively made up of Bamboo. Dhundka, an earthen pot like structure has circumference of about 90 to 100 cm. One end of the pot has a rounded hole of 25 cm diameter. This circular hole attached with a pipe made from hollow stem of Gongum (Cochlospermum religiosum), Gopid (Lannea coromandelica) or bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea). The Gongal or Gopid used as the stem of these plants has smooth, slimy inner side (So that fish readily slip in side). This can be applied in small cascades with the help of pipe attached. Fishes along with falling water enters through pipe and falls into the Dhundka. Over night, about 1 kg of fish can be caught in the Dhundka. (Illustrated in plate 9.3) 4 Garri (Hooks) Garri is popular among children. This is nothing but the popular baited hooks. The stick used made up of bamboo. Earthworms and or small dead fishes are used for bait. (Illustrated in plate 9.4) 5 Zinka Reported from Mendha, this is bamboo mat as much as 15 feet long and 10.5 feet wide, depending upon the length of available bamboo and width of stream. It is fixed against water current so that it should immerse half in water. Flowing with water, fishes jumps on the non-immersed part of Zinka and die due to asphyxia. This is generally used in the outlets of agriculture field. Very small size fishes were observed during catching. (Illustrated in plate 9.5) 6 Dandoor Reported from Mendha, this is cylindrical structure made up of bamboo sticks. Just like Dhiri it has a one-way valve. This is similar in function with Dhiri. Large size fishes can be caught in the cylinder. (Illustrated in plate 9.6) 7 Gappa Reported from Mendha, this is active method of catching fishes usually from the shallow pools. Women catch fishes with the help of this bamboo pot. This is circular pot made up of bamboo sticks. Originally, it is devised for the agriculture purpose, to collects grains etc. From a shallow pool, water is thrown out side (some time on the Zinka) along with water fishes thrown out and collected in Dooti (A small bamboo pot for fish collection (Dooty is Illustrated in plate 10.7 and Gappa illustrated in plate 9.7) 8 Joka (Deep, lift Net) Reported from Mendha, this is a very simple bamboo made structure used to catch fishes from the small, shallow pools and ponds just like Gappa. It is nothing but a deep or lift net. Two people lower this bamboo pot into water and periodically taken out of water with fishes. (Illustrated in plate 9.8) 9 Kotra This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. This is a large net used in running water and after monsoon (September). This net has two parts viz. a Pusa (Net proper) and Ghumla a bamboo made cylindrical structure. The net proper is made up of nylon threads. The net is 6 feet long and about 2 to 3 feet in circumference. One end of the Pusa is attached to Ghumla. Water current is confined to flow through Kotra. For its application the velocity of water current should be high otherwise the fishes can return and escape. Flowing fishes trap into the Kotra. (Illustrated in plate 9.9) 10 Koturli This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. It is a type of the small sized gill net. 11 Tangad This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. This is just like gill net with dimensions measuring 100 feet long and 10 feet wide. It is generally used to catch large size fishes in fish culture ponds. (Illustrated in plate 10.1) 12 Pandi This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. It is just like gill net with dimensions measured 150 feet long and 20 feet wide. This is generally used to catch large size fishes. (Illustrated in plate 10.2) 13 Ghan Bhor Jar (Cast net small) Use of the cast net is very common practice among the Dhivar fisherman but it is not found among Gond, as it needs expertise to use and it is costly. Its circumference measured 840 cm and mesh size is 9X9 mm. (Illustrated in plate 10.3) 14 Motha bhor jar (Cast net large) This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. This is large size cast net. 15 Pelni This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. This is a triangle of the three bamboo poles to which a fine mesh is attached. It is applied against flowing water and once shoal of flowing fishes enters inside, the net lifts and entered fishes are collected. (Illustrated in plate 10.4) 16 Zoruli This gadget is used by Dhivar people of this area. This is a type of lift net and used to catch small sized fishes for household consumption. 17 Atki (Gill Net) This is passive method of the fishing and most popular among the Dhivar and not used at all by Gond tribal. This is gill net made up of synthetic fibers. Initially the cotton fibers were in use. The length, width and mesh size is highly variable and depends on what sized fishes to be caught and habitat of its application (If the habitat depth is more large size gill net used). Weaving of the gill net is skilled work and it is an important pastime of the Dhivar people (Illustrated in plate 10.9 and plate 10.5 and 10.6) FISH STUPEFYING PLANTS The process of documenting many fish-poisons and their use is ongoing, interest in these plant’s potential uses in medicine, agriculture, and industry is growing (Jeremy 2002). Use of Herbal fish stupefying plants is very popular fishing practice among the tribal of Mendha. People are using and invented array of herbal fish poisons as their primary dependency is on the forest. During study period following 13 herbal fish poisons were documented. 1. Korkat 2. Nastonda 3. Kummod Hir 4. Masiyang 5. Odcha Popti 6. Kayyang 7. Gopid 8. Bese Mati 9. Bora Bhaji 10. Irpi Dhep 11. Wengore 12. Beerum 1 Korkat (Olax species) Family – Olaceae Korkat is a climber with compound, dark green leaves and white color bark. This is the most extensively used fish poison among Gond. In summer the leaves of this plant are dried and powdered, (Some time people use fresh leaves too). About 1 kg powder is mixed in 5 X 5 feet pond. This is generally used in the summer when water is confined to small, shallow ponds. Due to its mixing in water fishes becomes numb. Numb fishes are then collected by hand. It was observed that if numb fishes were immediately introduced into water they would become active. According to knowledgeable individuals, in order to get good results from the Korkat, environmental temperature should be high (Illustrated in plate 11.1). 2 Nas - Tonda This is bush size herb with broad thin leaves. The bark of root is crushed and mixed in water. The plant is used only in monsoon season, as the root is juicy in this season. Unlike Korkat, it can work in running water also. 0.5 kg bark is sufficient in 5 X 5 feet area (Illustrated in plate 11.2). 3 Kummod Hir (Careya arborea Roxb.) Family: Lecythidaceae Botanical synonym: Careya coccinea sensu Alston Marathi Name: Kuba, Kumbha, Kumbia, Vakumbha Kummod is large sized deciduous tree with simple large obovate leaves, large fruit and dark gray bark. Similar to Nastonda, bark of root is crushed and mixed in water. Due to its application, water becomes black. (Illustrated in plate 11.3). 4 Masiyang Masiyang is a shrub with compound leaves, small size fruit and yellow flowers. Now a day, it is not found in Mendha forest so it is not in use. Fruits are crushed and mixed in the water. 5 Odcha Popti (Cleistanthus collinus Benth) Family - Euphorbiaceae Odcha (In Gondi) or Garadi (In Marathi) is medium sized tree mainly found around the village. Young, tender shoots (locally called as Popti) of Odcha is used for fish poisoning. The shoots are crushed in water on stone and paste is mixed in water. Apart from its use as fish stupefying agent in Mendha stem of this plant is extensively used for brushing teeth, leaves for storing grains and wood as fuel. 6 Kayyang In Mendha Kayyang is occasionally used for fish poisoning. Its fruits are crushed and mixed in water. It is rare in the Mendha forest. 7 Gopid coromandelica (Houtt.) Botanical synonym: Dialium coromandelicum Houtt., Haberlia grandis Dennst., Lannea grandis (Dennst.), Odina wodier Roxb. Family: Anacardiaceae. Marathi Name: Moi, Munidi, Shimat, Shimti. This is medium sized to large deciduous tree with spreading crown and stout branches. Leaves compound, bark whitish or gray and small, yellowish or purplish flowers. Flowers and fruits appear between February and June. Fruits (Red, compressed, reniform and 1-seeded) of this plant are crushed and mix in water. It is abundant in the Mendha forest. Its use is not very frequent. 8 Bese mati (Costus speciosus) (Koenig.) Sm.) Botanical synonym: Banksia speciosa Koenig, Costus speciosus var. nepalensis (Rose.) Baker Family: Costaceae, Zingiberaceae Marathi Name: kemuka, penva, pinnga, pushkarmula Bese mati is an erect, succulent herb, up to 2.7 m tall and with a tuberous rootstock. Leaves spirally arranged on stem, 15-30 cm long and 5.7 to 7.5 cm wide, oblong to oblanceolate, glabrous above and silky pubescent beneath, apex caudate-acuminate, base rounded. Flowers are large, white with a yellow center, borne in dense terminal spikes, bracts 2 to 3.2 cm long, ovate, bright red to reddish-brown. Fruit is (capsule) ovoid, 2 cm in diameter, 3-halved, red when ripe; seeds are black, with a white aril. Tuberous rootstock is crushed and mixed in water for fish poisoning. Apart from its use as fish poison in Mendha tubers of Bese mati are consumed as nutritious delicacy after boiling. 9 Bora Bhaji Bora Bhaji is small herb with yellow colored flower. Whole green plant is crushed in water on stone and mixed in water. Numb fishes are collected by hand. Its use is not very frequent. 10 Irpi Dhep (Madhuca indica ( Koenig) Gmelin ) Botanical synonyms: Bassia latifolia Roxb.,Madhuca latifolia (Roxb.) Macbride, M.longifolia var. latifolia (Roxb.) Chev. Family: Sapotaceae. Marathi Name: mahwa, moh, Moho, mohwa. Irpi (Mahua) is a large sized tree. Seed yields edible oil. After the removal of the oil from seeds, remaining cake is used for fish poisoning. This cake is locally known as Gara-Dhep. The cake is boiled in water and mixture mixed in water. 0.5 kg cake is sufficient for 10 X10 feet pond. It is very effective poison and fishes die due to its application. 11 Wengore (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.) Botanical synonym: Lingoum marsupium (Roxb.), Kuntze, Pterocarpus bilobus Roxb. Ex G. Don, P. marsupium Roxb. Forma biloba (G. Don) prain. Marathi Name: - asan, bibla, dhorbenla, dhorbiola. Family Name: Fabaceae Common Name: Indian Kino Tree, Malabar Kino Tree, Kino. Wengore is a large size tree with simple leaves. Gray color bark is used for fish poisoning. Bark is crushed and mixed in water. 12 Beerum (Chloroxylon swietenia DC.) Botanical synonym: Swietenia chloroxylon Roxb. Family: Rutaceae Marathi Name: bheria, billu, halda. Beerum is medium sized tree with compound leaves. Its use is occasional. 7.3.3 Miscellaneous Night fishing This is a unique type of method mainly performed in the winter season. This method probably designed considering nocturnal foraging behaviors of the fishes. In this method, a light source is used to blind the fishes temporarily. The light source now a day includes a petromax, however initially a hollow bamboo pole filled with coal was in use. This method can only be effective in shallow, clear water in which fishes can easily observable from the top. The temporarily blind fishes hit by a sharp instrument or easily collected by hand. During fishing event, an experienced person holds petromax in the hand and point out fishes to other people and other people collect fishes. =Conclusions= The fishing techniques studied among Gond and Dhivar people give some useful insight into the traditional resource extraction strategies. These strategies are found to be based on the locally available material and always updating its status by importing new strategies that are more efficient. 1 Fishing techniques are conservative All the fish traps and herbal fish poisons studied seems to be not harm fish population very severely because the efficiency of the fishing by all these techniques are not very good as compared to modern techniques where the fish population is severely affected. Thus, all the systems are highly conservative in nature. 2 No mesh size restriction on certain fishing gadgets Although, some of the fishing techniques such as Zinka and Dhiri captures young and sub adults, due to very small mesh size, but use of these techniques is found to be not very frequent. 3 Validation of fish stupefying plants Herbal fish stupefying agents are excellent means of fishing, which do not kill whole fish stock like chemical poisons. Many of the fish stupefying plants are being used since long time by local people are recently well tested by many workers and are found to have many important medicinal properties like Carreya arborea is well-tested plant used as analgesic (Ahmed et. al. 2002) and anti diarrhoeal (Rahman et al. 2003). Some of the plants like C. collinus are a traditional poison used in the different part of the country (Sarathchandra and Balakrishnamurthy 1997, Thomas et al. 1991). Recent studies by Ragupathi et al. (1992) revealed that a toxic compound cleistanthin B (2 ng/ml) is reported from the C. collinus which might be responsible for its toxicity for fishes. In addition, in earlier studies by Islam et al. (2002), it was revealed that the stem bark extracts of Lannea coromandelica caused lyses of cell membrane followed by fragmentation of cellular materials. These studies scientifically confirmed the toxic property of these plants. 4 Fishing gadgets and folk knowledge about natural history Earlier studies show that there is an intricate link between various fishing techniques and users’ knowledge about the fish behaviors, taxonomy and knowledge about the habitat (Keegan 1986). All fish traps and methods of catching the fishes are based on the people’s intimate knowledge about the fish behavior. Some important behaviors are migration behavior, foraging behavior, habitat of the fishes etc. 5 Diversity of fishing techniques In Dhivar community, there are more fishing techniques and gadgets are in use than in Gond, but overall diversity of the fish catching devices is low. Most of the fishing gadgets are the one or the other type of the gill net. 6 Fishing niche Both communities are living proximity to each other. In spite, both communities i.e. Dhivar and Gond use their own niche of fishing, as there ways of resource extraction are very different. In Gond community unlike Dhivar, fishing is not earning source. Peak fishing occurs only in the Pre and post Monsoon. Gond people catch small number of fishes for there household needs and strictly not for the market. Gond people have no expertise to use cast nets and use of the gill net is occasional. However, they prudently can use herbal fish poisons that have not been reported among the Dhivar. Dhivar people can skillfully use cast and gill net. As Gond are mainly depend upon the forest for their subsistence, the fishing practices are evolved according to the available forest resources like those that of herbal fish poisons, bamboo etc. Most of the fishing gadgets used by the Dhivar are made up of some kind of thread, which is not the case for Gond. This might be because cotton fibers are introduced very late among Gond tribal. 7 Changing scenario The material, frequency and fishing nets are changing day by day. Thus, now a day some people are using mosquito nets for catching fishes. Initially fishing nets were generally prepared by locally available threads but now synthetic fibers are in use. Recently, people of Mendha and adjacent Ilakha (a group of 32 villages) have banned use of herbal or other fish poisons. According to local people, due to use of fish poison the population of fishes is adversely affected. In addition, there is popular belief among people that river Kathani is the home of hypothetical Mermaid (Locally called Kanya) whose curse will lead to poor rain and drought. By using herbal fish poisons the Kanya may be harmed. 8 Cultural taboo and fishing techniques Among the Gond, Dhiri, Zinka and Dandoor are the structures applied generally in night (Some time these are used for whole fishing season only remove to collect the fishes and to clean). Without guarding these structures, people will go home. However, in this area no thefts of these gadgets are recorded, because of some religious taboo. Local people believe that if somebody steals these structures then he or she will have some unknown disease. =Reference= Heda N. (2007):Some Studies on Ecology and Diversity of Fresh Water Fishes in the Two Rivers of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra (India). A Thesis submitted to Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University, Maharashtra (India). |
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