73 



control of the species treated and obviates the mixing of 

 different species of fishes in the ponds. 



Mullet are industrious feeders ; apart from the ques- 

 tion of the possible direct absorption of carbon compounds 

 dissolved in sea water, they grow fat on a diet of mud 

 when this is laden with diatoms or other minute algae — 

 possibly even when such are absent and the organic 

 matter present has resulted from decomposition changes. 

 Thus these fishes pick up food where other species 

 would starve. They increase rapidly in size ; according 

 to Coste, mullet living in Comacchio lagoon increase 

 from 3 centimetres in length to 26|- centimetres (io|- 

 inches) during a period of 12 months. The table of 

 growth which he gives may usefully be reproduced here, 

 in order that a comparison with the rate of increase in 

 Indian waters may be instituted when this information 

 be obtained. Coste's figures are as follows : — 



From my knowledge of the life conditions in Indian 

 backwaters, I feel assured that these figures are con- 

 siderably exceeded here ; indeed I expect to find that 

 mullet attain a oood marketable size at the end of one 

 year from the time they enter the ponds as fry. 



Polynemids, the kala of Tamil fishermen, and the 

 bamin of anglers, constitute another family of food fishes 

 in high esteem in India. Off Point Calimere and in Palk 

 Strait they are the subject of an important special fishery 

 and along both the East and West Coast they are eagerly 

 sought both by professional fishermen and by the votaries 

 of Isaak Walton. Either fresh or salt cured, bamin is 

 one of the very best flavoured fish for the table, and Sir 

 Frederick Nicholson has found it to give an extremely 

 satisfactory product when smoked. So highly esteemed 

 is it that it is called sometimes the Indian salmon. 



P. tetradactylus is probably the most valuable 

 species on the Madras Coast. It is the largest among 

 Indian species, attaining 6 feet and upwards in length 



