HABITS, BREEDING, ETC. 201 



under water and prevented from reaching the surface, 

 they quickly become drowned, especially if they are 

 excited and moving much about. When remaining 

 quiet, they seem to be able to keep under the surface 

 a long time ; perhaps at such times their gills are able 

 to supply them with sufficient oxygen from the 

 water, but when active they are obliged to come 

 constantly to the surface. 



Many kinds of fish do well in tanks, and will grow 

 to a large size. 



The species best adapted for this purpose seem to 

 be the Koho, " Labeo Eohita," " Catla buchanani," 

 u Cirrhina mrigala," u Barbus sarana," and some 

 others. The Murrul, " Ophiocephalus marulius," 

 grows to a large size, but it is a predaceous fish 

 and will not get on with the other kinds. The same 

 may be said of the large siluroids. 



In stocking a pond, it is said to be the best plan 

 to keep in it one species only, selecting a species 

 that will grow to a large size. The Catla is perhaps 

 the best for this purpose, as it is quick of growth 

 and of first-rate quality as food. Besides this, there 

 may be other fish of small kinds, but care should 

 be taken to exclude all carnivorous species. 



It should not be forgotten, however, that continuous 

 interbreeding among the same stock is injurious. In 

 old fish ponds it often happens that the fish get 

 diseased from this cause, hence care should be taken 

 to introduce fresh stock occasionally from a different 

 locality. 



