30 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XII, 



in increased fishery rentals being offered, as the lessees will benefit 

 materially from the protection offered. On the representation of 

 the Forest Department, a section of the Yelleru river, called Kulla- 

 thiri, was inspected and as it was found to be an important 

 breeding ground, Government have agreed to conserve the fishery 

 under the usual section of the Fishery Act [vide G.O. No. 519, 

 Revenue (Special), dated 22nd March 1919.] 



57. Deputation to Hyderabad. — The Piscicultural Assistant in- 

 spected the Oosman Sagar tank, Hyderabad, at the instance of His 

 Exalted Highness The Nizam's Government and a detailed report 

 was submitted by him, with recommendations as to the measures to 

 be taken to render its piscicultural value greater. 



58. General. — A considerable amount of data is being accumu- 

 lated concerning the distribution of fresh-water fishes and water 

 plants ; in the latter work we are benefiting b}' the valued assist- 

 ance of Prof. Fyson who is kindly identifying the specimens 

 submitted to him. Experiments are also in progress to determine 

 the relative values of different kinds of artificial fish food, such as 

 groundnut and gingelly oilcake (poonac), etc., the best species of 

 mullet to use for introduction into fresh-water tanks and the best 

 methods to employ in conditioning and transporting them. Due 

 to the success of these latter experiments some of the Nellore and 

 Chingleput tanks were stocked for the first time with mullets. 

 Experiments in mussel culture have also been initiated at Sunkesula 

 and Madras. 



59. In concluding the survey of the department's activities in 

 this section I cannot close without expressing my satisfaction with 

 the good and earnest work put in by the Piscicultural Assistant, 

 Mr. Sundara Raj, who has performed his duties most intelligently 

 and energetically. The staff generally have also worked well and 

 deserve commendation, but I regret to say that in nearly all cases 

 their qualifications, so faras the executive section is concerned, are 

 not adequate to requirements. This renders the burden of the 

 Piscicultural Assistant so much the harder and this unsatisfactory 

 state of affairs cannot be remedied till we have a technical institute 

 for the training of the executive staff. 



60. The usual statements and statistics are appended. 



