144 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XII, 



Above this I could find no trace of any fish except the indige- 

 nous minnow. The very shallow water intervening would no doubt 

 drive them to the deep pools below for protection. 



Habits. — The habits of this fish are to move about in shoals, to 

 come close into the edge and often to feed in practically shallow 

 water. They frequent the side-ditches or runners with steep grass 

 banks during the heat of the day, these being especially favourite 

 places when buffaloes are grazing near the banks. The buffalo 

 disturbs small frogs which invariably jump into the ditch and are 

 immediately eaten by the shoal which are waiting to seize them. 

 The fish also enter very rapid water in search of food. 



Contents of stomach. — On examining the contents of the stomach 

 of several of these fish I found the following food : several small 

 frogs, remains of small fish, dragon-fly larvae, caddis, grubs and 

 various animalcules. 



Edibility. — The flesh is somewhat tasteless, but is highly prized 

 by the people. Like most of the carp family it has large quantity 

 of small bones. 



The fish as an object of sport. — He is much superior to the 

 Carnatic carp. He makes quite a sporting run, takes a spoon 

 or live bait readily and can be caught in the rapid runs as well as 

 Still pools. 



Live fish food. — In this section can be found indigenous minnow, 

 mollusca, several variety of caddis, crab, dragon-fly larvae, frogs 

 and larvae of numerous small flies. 



Poaching. — The only poaching seems to be confined to occa- 

 sional raids and to the use of dynamite. I have been informed 

 by Mr. Hodgson that some poachers were caught in the act a few 

 years ago with a large quantity of fish in their possession and 

 were convicted and fined. In spite of these raids which are few 

 and far between and of the legitimate fishing with rod and line, 

 the Malabar carp have increased enormously. This section thus 

 forms a guide of the possibilities of restocking rivers with coarse 

 fish together with protection. All coarse fish are most prolific 

 egg givers and if not interfered with in their spawning operations 

 multiply enormously. 



Section il— Middle Moyar. 



Carnatic carp. — This section stretching from the bottom of the 

 Pykara Falls (where it takes the name of Moyar) clown to the 



