6o 



the Nilgiris, who reports thereon, but are mentioned 

 here since they were carried out by Mr. Wilson of this 

 department. 



1 8. On the plains valuable and hitherto unique work 

 was done by Mr. Wilson ; the Sunkesula (Kurnool) fish- 

 farm was brought to practical completion as the breed- 

 ing- arrangements, stock and fry ponds were in regular 

 use ; it now contains a fine stock of thousands of fish, 

 carp of all species being chiefly represented, and murrel 

 (ophiocephalids) which grow well and are greatly in 

 demand. It will now be possible to begin stocking the 

 canal and other waters which was the primary object of 

 the farm. But the stock is so large and grows so rapidly 

 that it is necessary to thin out the big fish, and since the 

 neighbouring town of Kurnool itself provides a large and 

 exigent market, to say nothing of the district, Mr. Wilson 

 has, in communication with the municipal authorities, 

 drawn up plans for marketing his surplus fish. This is 

 a very important development of the work ; no such idea 

 as that of breeding and nurturing fish for the urban 

 market had been dreamed of, and Mr. Wilson's work now 

 shows that there is an open and easily-worked field for a 

 new industry. Since a single large murrel, easily bred, 

 very nutritious, and with proper attention to desirable 

 flavour, can be sold for a rupee, there is obviously an 

 opening for the commercial breeding of fish wherever 

 there is water and market ; and since murrel of all 

 fish are most easily transported, and live a long time 

 out of water, they are specially excellent for market 

 purposes. 



19. The farm gives complete opportunities for study- 

 ing the bionomics of our Madras fresh-water fish, so 

 that the fish yielding the best class of food, the most 

 rapid growers, etc., can be selected for propagation and 

 distribution. The methods of hatching, rearing, and 

 transport suitable to tropical conditions and the nature 

 of the various species of fish are being devised, and 

 piscicultural science on both its pure and practical sides 

 is being studied. One interesting study was that of the 

 murrel (Ophioceph. punctatus) the eggs of which are now 

 known to be floating and not demersal as hitherto stated; 

 these .fish nest and protect their young in broods till of 

 the fingerling size ; hence it is easy to capture them for 

 farm purposes. 



