Mackerel fishery of Karwar

Abstract

Karwar (Lat. 14° 50' N and Long. 74° 03' E, North Kanara, Bombay State) is one of the major mackerel fishing centres of India. The Kanara Coast, which is 76 miles long, runs in a straight line except for the shallow Karwar and Belikeri bays in the north. The coast-line extending from Majali, on the southern boundary of Goa to Bhatkal, the southernmost limit of Bombay State, is of a varied character with rocky islands and capes, stretches of sandy beach and narrow river mouths. There are no major rivers opening into the sea on the Kanara Coast, but there are four main streams, Kalinadi or Sadashivgad river about 4 miles from the extreme north; GangavaU or Bedti river 20 miles to the south of Kahnadi; the Tadri or Mirjan river 6 miles to the south of Gangavali, and the Sharavati or Gersappa river about 16 miles to the south of Tadri. The mouths of these rivers are generally narrow and barred with sand, but they are spread into wide estuaries and form navigable tidal rivers for 12 to 20 miles from the river mouth. The northern half of the coast-line extending from Majali to Gangavali has shallow inshore waters, where shoaling fishes like the mackerel and the sardines congregate. The southern half from Gangavali to Bhatkal is surf-beaten, rocky and with deep inshore waters.