Delicious Hilsha is being netted in plenty in the Meghna estuary and in the southern Bay.

This may continue for about a week, fishermen and traders at wholesale markets here said.

Good catches are available some days before and after full moon, they said.

The size of fish now netted is "reasonable" and jatkas (fries) are less in number than before because of the government's anti-jatka netting campaign and measures, they said.

Ignoring rough weather, fishermen are going to the sea and returning with smiling faces, also to the delight of Hilsha mahajans (big whole sale traders) who are earning good profit from dadon (loan) given to fishermen.

The good supply has its impact in the market as well. Prices have

fallen by at least 25 per cent, wholesalers said.

But price of ice needed for preservation has doubled.

They said, since Sunday last, most of trawlers going to Ramnabad, Andharmanik, Dosha and Agunmukha in the Meghna estuary and in the southern Bay are returning with 7,000 to 8,000 pieces of Hilsha each. These are common fishing zones.

On Tuesday last, fishing trawler FB Momin returned with 16000 pieces of Hilsha and FB Hatem Jaan with 15,000 from Kalapara shore in the Bay. About one third were fries and the rest were of medium and big size, a wholesaler said. The ratio of jatka is less than lastyear's.

Some of the fishermen and traders this correspondent talked to said the government campaign has yielded positive results and the drive against jatka netting should

be intensified.

"Now we realise jatka netting should be stopped totally for our benefit", said fisherman Hatem Ali. "We also should remain vigilant. Violators should be punished"

On Friday, one maund of Hilsha of one kilogram size and above was sold at Tk 5800 to 6000 in the whole sale market against Tk 6200 to 6500 about a week before.

Those less than one kilohram (500 to 975 grams) were sold at Tk 3600 to 4000 per mound against Tk 4500 to 4800. Small size fishes (less than 500 grams) and fries were sold at Tk 2000 to 2100, Tk 400 less than the previous price.

On other hand, price of ice increased to Tk 100 from Tk 50 per can within this period.

Whole sale trader Abu Hanif at Kalapara said Hilsha prices would have fallen more had ice price remained as before.