85 



as tliey are habitually gi-own together in the same ponds or estab- 

 lishments. 1 inspected several ot tliese establishments in Tokyo and 

 elsewhere. 



180, The first series was near Tokyo, one establishment belonging 

 to the Fisheries Society * (see supra), and two others to business firms ; 

 all these are fed by water from the Snmida river which is at that place 

 under tidal influence and supplies rather brackish water. It is said 

 that in this neighbourhood alone about 225 acres of ponds are devoted 

 solely to the culture ol carp and supply Tokyo with above 400,000 lb. 

 of fish annually — a quantity which could , doubtless be largely increased ; 

 there is a strong hint for Madras in this suburban fish cultivation 

 considering the immense demand in Madras and the distance from 

 which {e.(j., Pulicat) sea fish is brought, often in not too good condi- 

 tion. At the first establishment I was fortunate enough to see the 

 important process of selecting the parent carp and placing them 

 together in ponds for breeding. There is no artificial removal and 

 hatching of eggs, but the ripe fish are simply placed together, about 

 two males to each female, in spawning ponds on the surface of which 

 are floating masses of weed and fibrous matter under which the 

 females lay their eggs which are at once fertilized by the males. Up 

 to the time of spawning the males and females are kept in separate 

 ponds, small and rectangular, for ease of netting, and only 3 or 4 feet 

 deep at most; at the proper season the ponds are carefully netted, the 

 ripe fish selected by appearance and gentle pressure, and transferred 

 to the spawning ponds ; after spawning they are again netted out and 

 retransferred to their old ponds, tiie spawn being left to liatch out 

 which occurs in a few days ; or the masses of weed with the adherent 

 eggs are removed to other ponds. The process is therefore of the 

 simplest, and requires no elaborate buildings or plant as in hatch- 

 eries j it is simply nature kept under control. The fish both young 

 and old have, however, to be fed, as the ponds are small and contain 

 little natural food ; moreover the fish are crowded together, at the rate 

 of about one fish of six inches in length per 2 square yards, and so in 

 proportion to size. The food for the newly hatched fry is said to be 

 yolk of egg for a few days only ; after that copepods of various kinds 

 for a few weeks, and then earth worms, crushed shell -fish and all kinds 

 of insect life and some cereal food, usually cooked : in several places I 

 found that the pupae of the silk- worm after the removal of the silk 

 were a principal food, so that in silk districts carp, etc., can be very 

 readily and profitably grown ; carp so treated, however, require a special 

 feeding course before marketing. Properly fed carp will grow up to 20 

 inches in length within two years. Those who know the various temj)le 

 ponds in this Presidency where fish are well fed and are not killed, know 



* I am not quite clear whether tliis belonged to the Fisheries Society or to the 

 Jmpurial Fishery Institute. 



