backwaters, as Covelong, Cuddalore, Ennore, Pulicat, 

 and in addition possesses a great number of extensive 

 river deltas — enormous areas of low marshy land inter- 

 sected by a network of channels. 



With a view to study the details of fish-culture suit- 

 able for Indian conditions, the adoption of which may 

 make it possible to utilize eventually some considerable 

 area of the Madras backwaters and estuarine marshes, I 

 took the opportunity last year (1909) when on leave in 

 Europe, to visit the two localities, Arcachon in France, 

 and Comacchio in Italy, where the rearing of sea fish in 

 ponds and lagoons is carried on very extensively accord- 

 ing to practical methods which have stood the economic 

 test of commercial conditions during several centuries in 

 the case of Comacchio and over 60 years in that of 

 Arcachon. 



I-A 



