TROUT CVLTURE OX THE XILGIRIS. 903 



to prodiice a single trout with red sp3t3. Thsy ssemto be unaware that in the 

 opinion of many Experts S. irridsns fights better than S. fario. They ignore the 

 fact that the foundation of Mr. Wilson's success was that he threw ovei° ,S'. fario 

 once for all and pinned his faith to S. irridens. They forget that even Eainbow do 

 not always thrive, the secret of Mr. Wilson's success being that he imported 

 stock fish which had been acclimatised in New Zealand and Ceylon respectively. 

 Mr. Wilson's choice of a site for an up-to-date hatchery on a small tributary 

 of the Avalanche stream Was a remarkable instance of intuition. Abandoning 

 the Snowdon-Dodabetta area where fry had perished in myriads owing to sudden 

 rises in the temperature and other causes, hs chose a spot where the climate 

 though warmer, was more equable, where the water was relatively purer, where 

 good shade prevented marked diurnal variations of temperature," and where an 

 abundant vegetation ensured the existence of myriads of entomostraca and other 

 supplies of food. 



Food:- — The problem of food has long been an important one. The follow- 

 ing are largely in evidence in the Xilgiri Rivers according to Mr. Wilson : — 

 Water beetles — 



Colymbetes striatus. Acilius sulcxtus. Coriia. 

 Dystiscus marginalis. Hjj'lrophyllus pisczus. 

 Mollusca — 

 Limnea pereger. Planorhis corneus. 



(A common mollusc not enumerated by Mr. Wilson is N^ritina 

 perotetiani.) 

 Caddis — 



'^tenophylar. Limnophilus lunatus. Phrygonea gmndis. 

 Miscellaneous — 

 Crabs. 



Indigenous minnow {Danio nilgirensis) 

 Numerous small animalcules and larvae. 

 In the Avalanche and the Billitaddaballa, 3Ir. Wilson noticed the presence 

 of the Stone Loach. This also occurs in the Pykara. 



In September 1908, i.e., two years after stocking had taken place, Mr. WilsoM 

 remarked a propos of the Parson's Valley stream: — 



" The decrease of the large natural fishfood is also marked. Crabs and min- 

 nows, especially the latter, where once numerous, are not now to be seen." 



In the year ending June 30th, 1913, Mr. Wilson reportsd that the reduced size 

 of the fish was due to lack of food. Netting was therefore resorted to to reduce 

 the number of fish. 



At present, crabs, worms, molluscs {princ[])Sb\ly Neritina p?rotetiana),Ca,ddis- 

 worms, beetles, frogs, the Xilgiri Minnow {Danio nilgiriensis) and a loach form the 

 diet of the trout. There are comparatively few Ephemeridae. When the rivers 

 were originally stocked, the trout grew rapidly to a great weight, the record fish 

 (6 J lbs.) having been caught in the Bilhtaddahalla where now it is difficult to catch 

 one over ten ounces although the number has increased enormously. 



By some, including the late Mr. Wilson, it is considered that the stock of fish 

 is too great for the available food supply. The diminution in size is ascribed by 

 others to the fact that new blood is required. Steps have been taken to provide 

 against both contingencies. No less than 7,500 eyed ova were imported from 

 Kashmir in the Spring of 1920 in exchange for 7,500 local ova. Though most of 

 these perished on the way, yet 300 Kashmir fry are being reared in No. 3 pond. 

 Some of these will be used to replace the 3 to 5 year old fish in the larger stock- 

 pond next Spring whilst the others will be put out in the upper tributaries of the 

 Krarmund and Mukerti. 



