97
cope with the steep fall in temperature during
winter), where they represent a sizeable part in
fi sh catches in large rivers and their tributaries.
However, ecological degradation of waterbodies
and overfi shing has led to a decline in schizothoracine fi sh stocks.
It may be noted here that the mahseers are
important HA fi shes. The fast-swimming species
of mahseer, trout and schizothoracines expend
much energy in maintaining an upright position
in the turbulent and fast current.
Incidentally, fi sheries in the Himalayan waterbodies could be classifi ed into (a) subsistence
fi shery and (b) sport/recreational fi shery. The latter
is discussed below briefl y in view of the signifi -
cant fi sh species, like mahseers.
Sport and Recreational Fishery
In India, angling had been a favourite pursuit of
the British in the fi rst half of this century, mainly
because the brown trout and the rainbow trout
were introduced in the upland waters. In India,
sport fi shing, as a recreational activity, has been
boosting tourism in the Himalayas. The best
sport fi sh are Tor putitora , Tor tor and brown
trout. One may expect that with fast increasing
urbanisation in the country, recreational fi shery
may become even more popular as a means of
escaping the crowded cities. The sport fi shes are
briefl y discussed below:
Trout
The trout, which is now acclimatised in the
streams of J&K, HP and to a lesser extent in the
central and eastern Himalayas, is permitted to be
caught on rod and line using both artifi cial and
live baits. Special bylaws have been formulated
under the Indian Fisheries Act in these provinces.
They regulate the fi shing season, bag limit and
prescribed baits.
Creel census data on brown trout fi shing indicate deterioration in catches throughout the
northwestern Himalayas. According to Crowe
(1955) and Macdonald (1955), the % of fi sh
<25.0 cm/400 g hooked by them in Kashmir
streams was 66.0–100.0 %.
An opinion prevails that a sharp decline in
catches of schizothoracine species in the Himalayas
is the result of brown trout preying upon their
younger stages.
Mahseers
The principal species of mahseers which contribute to the sport fi shery are Tor putitora , T. tor
and T. mosal . These species have wide-range
distribution in the Himalayan rivers. They are
caught with the help of stiff fi breglass rod (3–4 m
long having an adjustable brake system reel and
a 4.5–5.4 kg strong line). Five principal ways of
fi shing for mahseer are spinning, fl y fi shing,
live-bait fi shing, gram fi shing and paste fi shing.
Golden mahseer, Tor putitora , is a migratory
fi sh. This important sport fi sh migrates from the
lower to the middle reaches to spawn. It is a multiple spawner. However, this fi sh has suffered
badly in the hands of poachers through indiscriminate fi shing.
The mahseers occur rarely in areas where a
river meanders and has a sandy bed, but are
found in deep, still pools. The fi sh congregate
in deep runs, especially where a fall enters a
pool and in the eddies of these runs. It is better
to fi sh in the runs, the best area being the middle portion of each run. The still, deep pools
are equally good and can be approached by
bloated buffalo skin locally known as surmai
or a fi breglass boat.
It may be noted here that in the eastern
Himalayas, the North Bank Shooting Fishing
Association has been organising annually oneday angling competition since 1981. The largest
Tor putitora caught from the River Subansiri was
21.6 kg in 1990.
In addition to above, fi ve species of salmonids
were introduced in the Himalayas between 1905
and 1969 from Europe, North America and
Canada. These were brown trout, rainbow trout,
eastern brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ), splake
(hybrid between lake and brook trouts) and the
landlocked variety of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo
salar ).
It is, however, important to note here that in
the Himalayas as in many other parts of the
world, several exotic ichthyospecies have been
introduced without any consideration of the
impact of such introductions on the endemic fi sh.
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies
cope with the steep fall in temperature during
winter), where they represent a sizeable part in
fi sh catches in large rivers and their tributaries.
However, ecological degradation of waterbodies
and overfi shing has led to a decline in schizothoracine fi sh stocks.
It may be noted here that the mahseers are
important HA fi shes. The fast-swimming species
of mahseer, trout and schizothoracines expend
much energy in maintaining an upright position
in the turbulent and fast current.
Incidentally, fi sheries in the Himalayan waterbodies could be classifi ed into (a) subsistence
fi shery and (b) sport/recreational fi shery. The latter
is discussed below briefl y in view of the signifi -
cant fi sh species, like mahseers.
Sport and Recreational Fishery
In India, angling had been a favourite pursuit of
the British in the fi rst half of this century, mainly
because the brown trout and the rainbow trout
were introduced in the upland waters. In India,
sport fi shing, as a recreational activity, has been
boosting tourism in the Himalayas. The best
sport fi sh are Tor putitora , Tor tor and brown
trout. One may expect that with fast increasing
urbanisation in the country, recreational fi shery
may become even more popular as a means of
escaping the crowded cities. The sport fi shes are
briefl y discussed below:
Trout
The trout, which is now acclimatised in the
streams of J&K, HP and to a lesser extent in the
central and eastern Himalayas, is permitted to be
caught on rod and line using both artifi cial and
live baits. Special bylaws have been formulated
under the Indian Fisheries Act in these provinces.
They regulate the fi shing season, bag limit and
prescribed baits.
Creel census data on brown trout fi shing indicate deterioration in catches throughout the
northwestern Himalayas. According to Crowe
(1955) and Macdonald (1955), the % of fi sh
<25.0 cm/400 g hooked by them in Kashmir
streams was 66.0–100.0 %.
An opinion prevails that a sharp decline in
catches of schizothoracine species in the Himalayas
is the result of brown trout preying upon their
younger stages.
Mahseers
The principal species of mahseers which contribute to the sport fi shery are Tor putitora , T. tor
and T. mosal . These species have wide-range
distribution in the Himalayan rivers. They are
caught with the help of stiff fi breglass rod (3–4 m
long having an adjustable brake system reel and
a 4.5–5.4 kg strong line). Five principal ways of
fi shing for mahseer are spinning, fl y fi shing,
live-bait fi shing, gram fi shing and paste fi shing.
Golden mahseer, Tor putitora , is a migratory
fi sh. This important sport fi sh migrates from the
lower to the middle reaches to spawn. It is a multiple spawner. However, this fi sh has suffered
badly in the hands of poachers through indiscriminate fi shing.
The mahseers occur rarely in areas where a
river meanders and has a sandy bed, but are
found in deep, still pools. The fi sh congregate
in deep runs, especially where a fall enters a
pool and in the eddies of these runs. It is better
to fi sh in the runs, the best area being the middle portion of each run. The still, deep pools
are equally good and can be approached by
bloated buffalo skin locally known as surmai
or a fi breglass boat.
It may be noted here that in the eastern
Himalayas, the North Bank Shooting Fishing
Association has been organising annually oneday angling competition since 1981. The largest
Tor putitora caught from the River Subansiri was
21.6 kg in 1990.
In addition to above, fi ve species of salmonids
were introduced in the Himalayas between 1905
and 1969 from Europe, North America and
Canada. These were brown trout, rainbow trout,
eastern brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ), splake
(hybrid between lake and brook trouts) and the
landlocked variety of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo
salar ).
It is, however, important to note here that in
the Himalayas as in many other parts of the
world, several exotic ichthyospecies have been
introduced without any consideration of the
impact of such introductions on the endemic fi sh.
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies