No. 1 (1921) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1919-20 ]J 



eliminated, the gouraiiii were successfully returned to the pond. 

 J\bout 800 etroplus and 700 mullets were distributed from the fish- 

 farm to twelve tanks in the Presidency. 



64. The new larvicidal fish-farm at Praema in Kurnool district 

 was brought into working during the year. This farm was con- 

 structed in 1917. An exhaustive list of perennial waters on the 

 Nallamalais was obtained from the Forest Department and in 

 February 1920 with their assistance 70,000 larvicidal fish were 

 distributed to all the streams and pools in the Nandyal and Chelama 

 forest ranges. Operations will be extended to other ranges next 

 season when it is expected that the farm will grow a larger stock of 

 fish. 



65. Acclimatization and artificial propagation. — Gourami bred 

 twice in Sunkesula and in the ponds of the powder factory, Perambur ; 

 but as already indicated the normal crop of fry in the latter farm was 

 not obtained. At present gourami are bred in ponds under natural 

 conditions, but the authorities of Java have been addressed regarding 

 an artificial process of breeding them on an extensive scale. 



Ktroplub suratensis bred prolifically in the artificial nests designed 

 for them at Sunkesula and in the powder factory at Perambur ; they 

 bred for the first time at Ippur. Complete success has therefore 

 attended the acclimatization and cultural experiments started in the 

 year 1915-16 and it will now be possible to distribute to fresh-water 

 lakes and tanks this valuable estuarine food-fish which is usually 

 confined to tidal waters along the coast. 



The tench and English carp under observation in Sunkesula have 

 continued to do well but have not yet bred. 



A large stock of fry of mugil troscheli and other allied mullets 

 were transferred to tanks and reports on water stocked last year and 

 fished this hot weather show that success attended these experiments. 

 Mullet fry ranging in size from 2 inches to 5J inches have grown to 

 9 inches and 11 inches within a period of ten months in the Ippur 

 fish farm. 



One of the largest of the indigenous carp is catla catla ; this fish 

 is very numerous in the Kistna, the Godavari and rivers further 

 north and is regarded as one of the valuable food fishes of these 

 rivers. Half a century ago it was unknown in w^aters south of tl:c 

 Kistna. Since the opening of the Cuddapah-Kurnool canal and the 

 stocking of that canal by this department with this species, this fish 

 has found its way into the Pennar river and is now very common in 

 tanks fed by the Pennar in Nellore district where it is known as 

 Kistna botcha or Kistna carp. Last year a consignment of this carp 

 was introduced into the Madurantakam tank and it is proposed to 

 extend this fish further south. 



