Growth of Fishing as vocation of the local people of coastal region of Midnapore district

Abstract

Fish, which is at present the main source of animal protein in the region can play a major role in helping to bridge of protein deficit. Fishing is a very important occupation in Midnapore district, especially in the coastal region. Growth of fishing as an occupation was one of the important economic activities in the nineteenth century Midnapore. In various reports, there are many references regarding this. Even, some people shifted their vocation from agricultural activity to fishing during the period of our study. The salt authority also encouraged fishing as a vocation among the Malangis. Usually people belonging to Pod, Khadal, Namasudra, Rajbanshi and Muslim communities were engaged in fishing. This paper analyzes the development of fishing rights in colonial Bengal through the nineteenth century.