194 Fishing on the Neilgherries. Ciiapt. xvi. 



Ootacamund Lake, at any rate they are now thoroughly acclima- 

 tized in Billikal Lake. 



I paid one day's visit to the Bdlikal Lake, which is about 6 miles 

 from Ootacamund, hut could catch none, because the big fish keep 

 to the deep water, and are unapproachable without a boat. Any- 

 one essaying them there should have a basket boat brought up from 

 the low country, or try the deep water near the embankment, 

 bottom fishing if he cares to. The existence there of the Carnatic 

 Carp would seem to Bay that if they have borne the change 

 of climate to that elevation, and have got acclimatized to it, they 

 will probably bear it on to Ootacamund from thence, even if they 

 do not bear it direct from the plains. 



The Billikal Lake swarms with the little indigenous Rasbora 

 daniconiits. It only attains to 8 inches, but it rises very freely 

 indeed to the smallest fly you can use, and may serve excellently 

 to teach schoolboys to throw a fly, and to feed bigger fish. They 

 thrive very well there in company with the Carnatic Carp, but 

 they cannot stand the common carp, seemingly. 



There is no doubt that Labeos wUl thrive on the Neilgherries, 

 for I sent some fry to a friend, and they lived and grew well in 

 his pond, till a clever coolie let off all the water, and they went 

 into the coffee pulper. 



If they will live on the hills one might hope that the Oirrhma 

 cirrhosa, or White Carp, mentioned in Chapter XII, would also 

 thrive there. 



Barils would not thrive in the still water of the lakes, but 

 Chela might. The Gourami, of which more hereafter, has been 

 tried and died from, it is said, the cold. 



But with Carnatic Carp, White Carp, several Labeos, Chela, and 

 Tench, very fair fishing might be had in the Lakes at and about 

 ( totaeaimmd. With so many residents at, and so many visitors to, 

 this the largest sanitarium in Southern India, and a fishery act in 

 existence, something surely could be done to improve the fishing, 

 and thus to contribute to the health and amusement of not a few. 



As to the fish already there, the manner of capturing them may 

 be dismissed in very lew words. 



The Carnatic Carp has already been treated of in Chapter X 

 and above. Of Haslumf d<inict>niti* enough has been said. There 

 remain the English Car]) (Cyprvrws carpio), and Tench (Tinea 

 vulgaris). 



