market, and (2) the intensive method, practised in Japan, 

 where marine fish are artificially hatched or hatched in 

 confinement and brought to maturity in vast quantity in 

 comparatively small ponds with the aid of artificial 

 food ; see paragraphs 179-184 of my " Note on Japanese 

 Fisheries." 



13. For the present it is premature to discuss in 

 detail commercial methods, since fish-farming is non- 

 existent and we have too igw data. Personally I 

 incline to the belief in the intensive method which is 

 agreeable to the Indian tendency towards ''petite 

 culture, " and is enormously productive on very small 

 areas ; I should like to see vast areas of the shallower 

 parts of our backwaters reclaimed and turned into 

 small fish farms. Traversing these backwaters, espe- 

 cially in Travancore and Cochin, one may see hun- 

 dreds of petty reclamations carefully embanked not to 

 retain but to exclude water, and expensively unwatered, 

 often by engine power, to enable land crops to be grown ; 

 such areas would grow fish abundantly with the minimum 

 of expense ; in any case, since ryots are willing to spend 

 large sums in getting rid of water, they may be induced, 

 it we can show them successful fish-farming, to spend 

 smaller sums, in similar positions in keeping the water 

 in. Natural food in these positions is usually abundant, 

 consisting of small aquatic and semi-acquatic life, both 

 animal and vegetable, while for the more expensive 

 classes of fish such as the bami'n and pomfret, it would be 

 possible to supply artificial food in the shape of dry fish 

 meal, etc., at extremely low rates. 



14. For the present, however, the methods for 

 mention in this letter are those to be adopted by " Fish- 

 eries " in experiment. These are (i) laboratory or 

 aquarium methods, (2) pond farming as a working experi- 

 ment in selected positions. The first has been mentioned 

 and is essential if we are to gain an exact knowledge of 

 the bionomics of food fish, and I trust that Government 

 will sanction the proposal alluded to in paragraah 11 

 supra, viz., the provision of a small biological laboratory 

 and hatchery attached to the proposed new aquarium. 

 The second can be readily carried out in connection 

 with certain salt-pans, the main supply channels of 

 which are admirably suited for experimental work, being 

 enclosed, protected from ooaching and interference, 



