174 



mentioned, of which the eel is by far the most import- 

 ant. In Japan eel and mullet in the brackish waters 

 of the Tokyo ponds were found to be the fish chiefly 

 cultivated. 



Now in this Presidency the eel, though found in 

 some quantity, is not abundant or in general favour, and 

 may at present be neglected. The mullet, of various 

 species, is one of the most abundant in the backwaters 

 forming a large item, for instance, in the Ennore catches. 

 But Mr. Hornell points out that we have, in addition, 

 quite a variety of much more valuable fish, habitually 

 found in our backwaters, such as the koduva (Lates 

 calcarifer, begti or cock-up). The kala or bami'n (Poly- 

 nemus), sea-bream of several species, and even, when 

 young the white pomfret according to Dr. Day ; also 

 others of less food value. 



The mullet is very suitable in many ways ; it is 

 omnivorous and consequently easy to feed, while, as 

 frequently caught at the Ennore station, it is at certain 

 seasons, full of ripe spawn or milt so that the eggs could 

 be artificially fertilized and hatched with great ease for 

 farming purposes. Mr. Hornell estimates that these 

 fish would be quite marketable in a year from entering 

 the ponds as fry. Mr. Hornell also points out that 

 since at least some species of the polynemids (bami'n) 

 enter the backwaters and tidal rivers for spawning, there 

 should be no difficulty in obtaining ova for artificial 

 hatching ; so also with Lates calcarifer and some other 

 fish. Also that the fry of several valuable species are 

 found in enormous quantities at various seasons in the 

 backwaters and could be obtained with the utmost ease 

 for rearing in enclosures ; they may be caught abundantly 

 in ordinary push nets along the banks, since children 

 catch them in quantity by using their cloths as nets. 

 If the white pomfret is really susceptible of cultivation 

 in enclosures as suggested by Mr. Hornell, a most 

 valuable fish would be brought into comparatively 

 common consumption. 



The fish mentioned are not only valuable as food 

 fish but have apparently accustomed themselves to those 

 large and rapid variations in the water which we find in 

 our backwaters and which would be fatal to European 

 farming. Mr. Hornell mentions the matter of salinity 

 in some detail and points out the wide extremes, so 



