601
operated along the littoral belt of the Beel,
particularly, at the DSL. Further, impoundment, which often leads to rich harvest from
the Beel at the DSL, does not involve any gear
at all except some implements to bail out the
impounded water.
Notwithstanding the above, seasonality in
operation of some of the types of gears is of special signifi cance. The monsoon varieties include
the Chhat jal, Dorar jal, Haran jal, Maha jal and
the Tana jal. On the other hand, Kupa barshi,
Tanga barshi, Gui, Paran, Dal jal, Rekh jal, Arar
jal and Fal jal are the gears which are operated
mainly during the winter. Dheki jal, Chat jal and
Ghuran jal are seen in operation during both
monsoon and dry seasons. Indeed, the Lar barshi,
Dori, Pelain, Kuchrung jal, Patan jal and Jhaki jal
have no seasonality and are found in use throughout the year.
A critical survey of the gear specifi city to
fi shermen types ( FAO 1963 ) revealed that the
occasional type of fi shermen, who resort to fi shing only in commemoration of an event, uses the
simple varieties of domestic gears like the Pelain.
The part-time class of fi shermen, in addition to
Pelain, also generally operate the Dori, Jhaki jal
and the Lar barshi for a rich harvest in the event
of their hardship. The professional category of
fi shermen, conversely, use most of the types of
gears seen in operation in Sone Beel. Indeed, a
tendency by this group for intensive fi shing with
the help of gears like Maha jal, Chat jal and
Ghuran jal is generally observed. Further, it is
generally seen that the Kuchrung jal, Dorar jal
and Dhagamara varieties are restricted exclusively to the Patni community, while Dori, Paran
and Gui are seen to be extensively operated by
the Namasudras. Interestingly, the Maimals are
generally seen to be more inclined to operate
Chhat jal, Rekh jal, Patan jal, Dheki jal and
the barshis. The Kaibartas, who constitute the
major proportion of the professional category
of fi shermen, operate almost all the types of fi shing gears, in vogue, in Sone Beel. However,
the operation of gears like Maha jal, Chat jal,
Ghuran jal, Dal jal, Fal jal, Tana jal and Haran jal
is seen to be restricted exclusively to the Kaibarta
community.
Study of gear specifi city to fi sh types reveals
that IMCs of Sone Beel are caught mainly by the
Maha jal. However, Chat jal, Ghuran jal, Dheki
jal, Patan jal, Jhaki jal, Rekh jal and Fal jal are
also found to be effective to this group. Of the
three ichthyospecies of Sone Beel fetching high
yield, Puntius chola is caught in enormous quantity by Maha jal followed by Chat jal, Dheki jal,
Jhaki jal and Dori. The other two species, namely,
Parambassis ranga and Chanda nama , are caught
in large number by the Maha jal, Chat jal and
Chhat jal. In fact, the fry of Chanda nama , caught
with Maha jal in enormously bulk quantity, is
sold in the local fi sh markets as ‘Bhujiya’. Chhat
jal catches consist exclusively of Chanda nama ;
and in the operation, as already mentioned earlier, a plant, locally called ‘Bhutang’ ( Saccharum
sp.), is used to allure the fi shes towards the gear.
Gudusia chapra , which was abundantly available
in Sone Beel once upon a time, has been very rare
since the initiation of engine-operated motor
boats in Sone Beel around 1990. Gudusia chapra
used to be caught in large number in the Maha jal.
The ‘clap net’ (locally called ‘Sanglo jal’ in
Brahmaputra valley and ‘Chairon jal’ in Barak
valley) is designed specifi cally to capture Hilsa
( Tenualosa ) ilisha in the rivers Barak and
Brahmaputra. This gear is not seen in operation
in Sone Beel. Rather, Maha jal, Chat jal and
Patan jal are found to be used for catching the
Indian shad in Sone Beel. Among the other fi sh
groups, mullets are generally caught with the
help of Dorar jal, while the Haran jal is generally
seen to be effective in catching, among others,
the Sperata seenghala and Mastacembelus armatus . It also catches a large quantity of trash fi shes.
Among the catfi shes, Wallago attu is found to be
caught generally with the help of Kupa barshi
and Tanga barshi. The Lar barshi is generally
found to be very effective in catching the bottomdwelling murrels.
27.3.16 Fish Catching Devices
in Chatla Haor
Chatla Haor is a seasonal fl oodplain wetland in
Cachar District of Assam. It retains water for
27.3 Wetland Fish Catching Devices Exemplifi ed from a Typical Wetland in Asia
operated along the littoral belt of the Beel,
particularly, at the DSL. Further, impoundment, which often leads to rich harvest from
the Beel at the DSL, does not involve any gear
at all except some implements to bail out the
impounded water.
Notwithstanding the above, seasonality in
operation of some of the types of gears is of special signifi cance. The monsoon varieties include
the Chhat jal, Dorar jal, Haran jal, Maha jal and
the Tana jal. On the other hand, Kupa barshi,
Tanga barshi, Gui, Paran, Dal jal, Rekh jal, Arar
jal and Fal jal are the gears which are operated
mainly during the winter. Dheki jal, Chat jal and
Ghuran jal are seen in operation during both
monsoon and dry seasons. Indeed, the Lar barshi,
Dori, Pelain, Kuchrung jal, Patan jal and Jhaki jal
have no seasonality and are found in use throughout the year.
A critical survey of the gear specifi city to
fi shermen types ( FAO 1963 ) revealed that the
occasional type of fi shermen, who resort to fi shing only in commemoration of an event, uses the
simple varieties of domestic gears like the Pelain.
The part-time class of fi shermen, in addition to
Pelain, also generally operate the Dori, Jhaki jal
and the Lar barshi for a rich harvest in the event
of their hardship. The professional category of
fi shermen, conversely, use most of the types of
gears seen in operation in Sone Beel. Indeed, a
tendency by this group for intensive fi shing with
the help of gears like Maha jal, Chat jal and
Ghuran jal is generally observed. Further, it is
generally seen that the Kuchrung jal, Dorar jal
and Dhagamara varieties are restricted exclusively to the Patni community, while Dori, Paran
and Gui are seen to be extensively operated by
the Namasudras. Interestingly, the Maimals are
generally seen to be more inclined to operate
Chhat jal, Rekh jal, Patan jal, Dheki jal and
the barshis. The Kaibartas, who constitute the
major proportion of the professional category
of fi shermen, operate almost all the types of fi shing gears, in vogue, in Sone Beel. However,
the operation of gears like Maha jal, Chat jal,
Ghuran jal, Dal jal, Fal jal, Tana jal and Haran jal
is seen to be restricted exclusively to the Kaibarta
community.
Study of gear specifi city to fi sh types reveals
that IMCs of Sone Beel are caught mainly by the
Maha jal. However, Chat jal, Ghuran jal, Dheki
jal, Patan jal, Jhaki jal, Rekh jal and Fal jal are
also found to be effective to this group. Of the
three ichthyospecies of Sone Beel fetching high
yield, Puntius chola is caught in enormous quantity by Maha jal followed by Chat jal, Dheki jal,
Jhaki jal and Dori. The other two species, namely,
Parambassis ranga and Chanda nama , are caught
in large number by the Maha jal, Chat jal and
Chhat jal. In fact, the fry of Chanda nama , caught
with Maha jal in enormously bulk quantity, is
sold in the local fi sh markets as ‘Bhujiya’. Chhat
jal catches consist exclusively of Chanda nama ;
and in the operation, as already mentioned earlier, a plant, locally called ‘Bhutang’ ( Saccharum
sp.), is used to allure the fi shes towards the gear.
Gudusia chapra , which was abundantly available
in Sone Beel once upon a time, has been very rare
since the initiation of engine-operated motor
boats in Sone Beel around 1990. Gudusia chapra
used to be caught in large number in the Maha jal.
The ‘clap net’ (locally called ‘Sanglo jal’ in
Brahmaputra valley and ‘Chairon jal’ in Barak
valley) is designed specifi cally to capture Hilsa
( Tenualosa ) ilisha in the rivers Barak and
Brahmaputra. This gear is not seen in operation
in Sone Beel. Rather, Maha jal, Chat jal and
Patan jal are found to be used for catching the
Indian shad in Sone Beel. Among the other fi sh
groups, mullets are generally caught with the
help of Dorar jal, while the Haran jal is generally
seen to be effective in catching, among others,
the Sperata seenghala and Mastacembelus armatus . It also catches a large quantity of trash fi shes.
Among the catfi shes, Wallago attu is found to be
caught generally with the help of Kupa barshi
and Tanga barshi. The Lar barshi is generally
found to be very effective in catching the bottomdwelling murrels.
27.3.16 Fish Catching Devices
in Chatla Haor
Chatla Haor is a seasonal fl oodplain wetland in
Cachar District of Assam. It retains water for
27.3 Wetland Fish Catching Devices Exemplifi ed from a Typical Wetland in Asia