75 



Mullet and pomfret should go well together in the 

 same ponds ; in feeding habits they appear to be comple- 

 mental, the one fond of plant growth, the other of the 

 small animal life easily propagated in ponds. Neither 

 would interfere inimically with the other. What are the 

 prospects of acclimatising in ponds the fry of the other 

 two species of pomfret (the grey and the black) cannot be 

 stated, so little is known of their habits. In favour of 

 the possibility of so treating them is to be counted their 

 somewhat phlegmatic habits. They are comparatively 

 slow in their movements and fish of this temperament 

 usually adapt themselves readily to the irksomeness of 

 confinement. 



The Sea-breams {Sparidac) are well represented in 

 India, but only those of the genus Chrysophrys appear 

 suitable for pond-culture. The different species run 

 generally from a foot to 18 inches in length. Shoals of 

 their young are frequently met with in backwaters at the 

 beginning of the south-west monsoon and they have the 

 same habit of working up estuaries against the current as 

 is characteristic of European species. They make excel- 

 lent eating and might prove useful fish for pond-rearing. 



The Koduva (Lates calcarifer) is a large fish highly 

 valued, and well known to Europeans in Calcutta under 

 the names of begh and Cock-up. It is one of largest of 

 Eastern sea-perches and is almost the only species which 

 frequents backwaters and tidal rivers, so agreeing in 

 habit with its European relative the bass (Z. lupus). In 

 Pulicat Lake it abounds, particularly in the inner or 

 northern section, where the fishermen of adjoining 

 hamlets co-operate periodically in extensive driving 

 operations using cotton rope nets of great strength and 

 large mesh, the fish often ranging between 2J to 3 feet, 

 the maximum recorded being 5 feet with a weight of 

 200 lb. The air-bladders (sounds) of these fish are 

 valuable for isinglass manufacture, so this fish well 

 deserves attention for fish-cultural purposes. Its voracity 

 may prove an objection, unless some cheap source of 

 suitable artificial food can be provided. Otherwise it 

 should thrive well in captivity. 



The so-called " whiting" of Madras, Sillago sihama 

 the karangan of the Tamils, is yet another excellent food- 

 fish, particularly well adapted to pond-culture. This and 



