IQ M.o MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XIII 



The hilsa hatchery at the Lower Anient in the Cauvery river waa 

 operated from the 5th August to 22nd August 1919. Nine batches 

 of ripe ova consisting of several thousands of eggs were successfully 

 fertilized and hatched. The experiments since 1915 have enabled us 

 to determine the correct process of artificially fertilizing hilsa eggs. 

 The fry hatched are turned into the river two or three days after 

 their birth. In order to attain an extra advantage from hatching 

 operations, it is desirable to determine experimentally the process of 

 rearing the fry up to the stage when they are better fitted to shift 

 for themselves before placing them in rivers. At present the factors 

 which determine the growth of the hilsa fry and their natural food 

 are entirely unknown. Preliminary arrar.gements for the initiation 

 of experiments were seriously handicapped by the scarcity of 

 glassware and scientific apparatus, as well as by the want of facilities 

 at the Lower Anicut. The floatiug hatchery scheme for the Colair 

 lake in Kistna district was intended to replace the hatchery of the 

 Lower Anicut, but private rights and stake nets continued to hinder 

 the execution of the scheme. 



An attempt to introduce thick-shelled river mussels from Bengal 

 and Punjab in order to provide mussel shells suitable for the manufac- 

 ture of buttons was unsuccessful. 



The Palni Game Association propose to stock the waters of the 

 Palnis with trout. A preliminary survey of the streams and lakes 

 in the Kodaikanal plateau to determine their suitability for trout was 

 undertaken by the Assistant Director in May. A suitable site for a 

 hatchery cannot be selected until the temperature and other conditions 

 of the streams from October to March — the breeding season for 

 trout— are ascertained. 



66. Incomplete snhemes. — As the jungle road from Pallamadugu 

 to Pedda£;adi was completed during the year by the Public Works 

 Department, arrangements for breeding suitable larvicidal fish at 

 Peddagadi in Cuddapah district v^ill now be taken in band. The 

 arrangements were sanctioned in Gr.O. No. 1898 M., dated 2nd 

 October 1918. 



In September 1917, the Government approved of the combined 

 fishery and anti-malarial scheme for the Chingleput fort moat. 

 Detailed estimates amount toabout Es. 17,000. Their execution 

 has not vet been besun. 



'O" 



In November 1918, the Government sanctioned the control and 

 improvement of the Vellore fort moat by this department. The esti- 

 mates for its'improvement amount to Es. 18,460. The work has not 

 yet been begun. 



