Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Dry fish production centres of Sundarban. 3. Dry fish varieties of Sundarban. 4. Production unit and production relations. 5. Work participation. 6. Production assessment. 7. Production economics. 8. Exploitation and relation. 9. Regulations and management. 10. Suggestions for improvement. 11. Conclusion and summary. 12. References. Appendices. Glossary. Author index. Subject index.

"This is the first comprehensive account of dry fish production in Sundarban based on remarkably rich Ethno Socio Zoological data collected during 1992-93 to 1994-1995 from the six dry fish centres of Sundarban.

"The study has demonstrated how the dry fish industry of Sundarban face the demographic challenge of the region and how the fishing and non-fishing castes work together harmoniously and make this trade possible. The present treatise depicts classified list of fish and shell fish items caught in the territorial waters of Sundarban coast. This book deals with various fish drying methods of Sundarban along with production unit and production relations, work participation of children; women and aged fish workers; production assessment; production economics; exploitation and relation; regulations and management etc.

"The production and economics of the different types of dry fish units are also reported with cost-benefit data. The work participation, production relations and constraints in the transient winter fishing camps are narrated lucidly with some pertinent case studies.

"The book is addressed to marine fishery scientist, social scientist, anthropologist and Zoologist besides fishery entrepreneurs and policy makers. It is also useful to students an teachers alike interested in learning, teaching and research in rural sociology, coastal fishery, marine science and management studies." (jacket)