2(5 MADEAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV 



area for the culture and distribution of food fish, fry and larvieidal 

 fishes. When the ponds are cleaned out and remodelled, it is 

 proposed to transfer the Perambur fish-farm operations entirely to this 

 centre, where supervision will be easier and the area of culture- 

 water many times increased. Proposals will shortly be submitted. 



38. Prema larvieidal fish-farm.. — The two ponds at this 

 centre continued to provide large supplies for stocking the Nalla- 

 malai waters. During the year under report all permanent 

 waters in the Bairluti, Pecberuvu and Gundalakamma ranges 

 and one spring in the Chelma range were stocked with larvicides. 

 An extension of the ponds has become necessary to meet the increased 

 volume of operations. Plans and estimates for these have been 

 prepared. 



39. Acclimatization. — This work proceeded as in the year pre- 

 ceding, but on a larger scale. Etroplus suratemis bred prolifically 

 in all our three fish-farms, and its wide distribution to inland waters 

 should soon make it well known in places where none existed a 

 couple of years ago. This result emphasizes the value of biological 

 research, for it was not till the life-history of this fish had been 

 fully investigated, that we were able to provide the breeding fish 

 with nesting places suitable for its peculiar requirements. Tl\e stock 

 of Gourami is steadily increasing at Sunkesula and Perambur and it 

 will soon be possible to utilize its fry in considerable numbers for 

 stocking purposes. 



The use of the fry of certain species of Mullet, begun in 1 919-20, 

 has been largely extended. Samples of the fry employed for this 

 purpose, kept under observation in the Ippur fish farm, were found 

 to have grown from sizes ranging between 2 and 5| inches in length, 

 to 8 and 11 inches within a period of ten months, in June 1920. In 

 the year now closed these same fish attained sizes ranging between 

 15 and 16 inches in length. Mullet that can be acclimatized to 

 fresh water have many other advantages besides rapid growth. Their 

 fry are extremely abundant in estuaries ; they are easily captured 

 and transported ; they are chiefly vegetarian in diet and are esteemed 

 highly as food, fetching better prices, weight for weight, than coarse 

 tank fishes. 



* 



The valuable carp, Caila catla, is another fish that will repay 

 effort to extend its area of distribution south of Madras where it 

 does not naturally occur. Difficulty had been experienced in finding 

 its breeding places and the haunts of its fry. Kecent research has 

 been successful in locating abundance of fingerlings in the Colair 

 lake region and a proposal for establishing a fishery station in Colair 

 lake is now under preparation. 



