I 5 6 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



• Months. 



December 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



June 



Total 



LB. 

 I,l63 

 1,096 

 2,004 



1,368 

 2,Il8 



9 8 S 

 1,085 



l8,07I 



3,198 II 



The carps are an important group of fresh-water fishes of 

 great economic value to the poorer classes. They are tasty, but 

 too small and too bony for Europeans. The carps seen in the 

 Madras markets are Kendai (Nuria danrica and Barbus dorsalis), 

 Pannikendai {Barbus chrysopoma) and Vishakendai {B. stigma). 

 The flesh of the last is bitter, but is, however, eaten because of its 

 supposed medicinal value. 



December is the favourite month for carps. In April and 

 August carps are brought in good quantities to the markets. 



The Gobies which are eaten by the poorer classes comprise 

 many species of Gobius and one of Elcotris, viz., Gobius criniger 

 (Upputhanni Uluvai), G. neilli and G. cristatus (Uluvai) found in 

 estuaries, G. giuris (Nalla thanni Uluvai) the freshwater Goby and 

 Eleotris fusca (Kaluluvai). This last is said to be good eating 

 though too small for European cookery. One other species of 

 Gobius {G. acutipiimis) is often seen in the markets mixed up with 



