82 



Much of these necessary data is not yet available ; 

 observations are urgently needed upon the breeding 

 habits and the nature of the food of the principal back- 

 water and estuarine fishes and experiments in artificial 

 impregnation and hatching are needed before marine 

 fish-culture can be carried on commercially with fair 

 assurance of eventual success. 



Most useful information will become available if a 

 well considered experiment in fish rearing be carried out 

 by this department's officers in such a series of ponds as 

 are available at trivial expense by the conversion of 

 disused salt channels at several selected localities alongf 

 the East Coast. Detailed proposals to this end will be 

 prepared and presented separately. It is of interest 

 to note that the Arcachon fish farms were begun in 

 this very way — by conversion of salt-pan channels into 

 ponds. 



Comparison of local waters and conditions so far as 

 are known, with those of Europe holds out definite 

 promise of success if plans be well drawn up and the 

 work judiciously managed. Several of the most impor- 

 tant conditions in India are greatly more favourable 

 than in Europe ; we have more and better species of fish 

 available from which to select the kinds which will repay 

 culture most profitably and the rate of the growth is, we 

 believe, much more rapid than in temperate latitudes * 

 owing to the great abundance of food in inshore and 

 estuarine waters and the absence of inclement winter 

 conditions when growth suffers arrestment in Europe. 



Natural fish farming, based upon the rearing of fish 

 from fry hatched naturally in the sea involves so little 

 expense that under these specially favourable conditions 

 commercial success should be easv of attainment. Once 

 the pond be made and the sluices fitted — and these exist 

 already if we utilize salt-pan channels — almost the only 

 expenses involved consist of the wages of a sluice man 

 and a watchman. The fish under this system forage in 

 the pond for the whole of their food and receive or 

 require practically no attention save in regard to peri- 



* The data obtained from our oyster-culture experiments at Ennore are 

 most definite in regard to this shellfish ; we have learned that eighteen months 

 from spawning are sufficient to provide well-grown oysters fit for market, ranging 

 in size between 3J x 3 inches and 4I x 3! inches. 



