408 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII. 



however his summary of the chronological data available will suffice. This 

 reads : — 



Principal events. 



Yolk-sac circulation established : pigment 

 cells develop their black colouration : 

 pigment begins to appear in eyes. 



Pectoral fins arise : mouth opens and res- 

 piratory movements commence. 



Larvae leaving the surface and swimming 

 freely at all levels. 



Larvse swimming and turning in imison at 

 the slightest concussion. Caudal car- 

 tilages appear. 



Posterior end of notochord bends up. 



Caudal rays jointed and articulated with 

 the basal cartilages. Larvse rise to the 

 surface to take air. 



Primordia of dorsal and anal rays. 

 , Rudiments of central fins appear. Dorsal 

 and anal fins separating from caudal. 



The fry now hide in the mud. 



The yolk-sac is absorbed and the fish get on the feed on the fifth day 

 after hatching. 



Here then is a fish which, as Dr. Willey rightly concludes, '' could be 

 reared with comparative ease in protected ponds and could be distri- 

 buted subsequently as required. " It is prolific : extraordinarily hardy : 

 adaptable in its habits to extremes of climate ; very good to eat : easily 

 brought fresh to market : and finally by no means contemptible as a 

 sporting fish. 



There is a tardy but distinct tendency nowadays to recognise the re- 

 sponsibility of Government with regard to the maintenance and replenish- 

 ment of the stock of food fishes. And sportsmen will be doing a service 

 not only to their " brethren of the angle " but to the public generally if they 

 will collect and record data as to the breeding habits, not only of Ophio- 

 cephaloid but of all useful fish. 



Even Dr. Willey's invaluable paper does not answer all the questions 

 which a fish culturist would ask before undertaking to stock waters with 

 Ophiocej}halus striatus : and this point is easily illustrated. 



The species is plainly adapted for pond culture. That is, pairs of fish 

 should be turned into breeding ponds at the beginning of the spawning 

 season and left to nest as in a state of nature. Ponds must be supplied at 

 the shallow edges with reeds in which the " small rounded clearings" 

 forming the nests may be cleared. Bushes for shade : " other aquatic 

 plants " whose " small leaves " are used apparently for purposes of 

 concealment of the floating ova : tussocks of grass to conceal and shade the 

 young fish : all these forms of plant life are evidently essential in order to 

 supply suitable spawning conditions. Dr. Willey does not tell us what 

 plants he found round his nests and the first point to emphasize is the 

 necessity for discovering these. Species would vary no doubt in difl'erent 

 parts of India. But native fishermen sometimes possess considerably more 

 extensive and more accurate knowledge of these matters than is generally 

 accredited to them, and with proper co-operation data applicable to any 

 district in India should be easily obtainable. 



