[7] THE FISHERIES OF INDIA. 389 



1. — Eeproduction of fish. 



How the reproduction of these fishes is carried on becomes a most 

 necessary investiji^atioii, and in briefly considering sncli we might in- 

 quire into what migrations they undertake for this purposed Whether 

 the parents are monogamous, polygamous, or are anuuals, dying after 

 the reproductive process has been accomplished ? The time of year 

 when spawning occurs ? Whether such is or is not deleterious to the 

 parent ? The size of the eggs, their color, whether they float or sink, 

 are deposited in running or stagnant waters'? If they are covered or 

 left uncovered in their nests? If the male carries them about or pro. 

 tects them ? Can their germination be retarded by artificial means or 

 natural causes, as by the action of cold or their immersion in mud"? 



Migration of spawning fish. — That anadromous forms, as the salmon or 

 shad of Europe, or the shad [Gliipea palasali) of India, migrate from the 

 sea to the fresh waters to deposit their eggs in localities most suitable 

 for their reception is well known. If we examine into the migration of 

 Indian fishes for breeding purposes in fresh waters, we find that such 

 takes place under three conditions, viz. : (1) Anadromous forms from the 

 sea to the fresh waters, as already adverted to; (2) Such species as may 

 be considered pertaining to the mountains, or else deposit their ova in the 

 rivers of the hills ; (3) Such as are restricted to the plains, but which 

 likewise undertake certain changes of locality at these periods. Of the 

 migratory hill-fishes the various forms of large barbels {Barbus), termed 

 mahaseers, furnish good examples. In the Himalayas they ascend the 

 main rivers, but turn into the side streams to breed, while on the less 

 elevated Neilgherry Mountains, in the Madras Presidency, the same 

 phenomenon occurs, but with this difference, that they deposit their 

 ova in the main streams because sucb are small, and perhaps due to 

 their never being replenished with snow-water. Occasionally the fish 

 are too large to ascend these mountain rivers, when they would appear 

 to breed at the bases of the hills. Whether it is from the offspring of 

 such that this genus has extended through the plains it is not my pur- 

 pose to inquire in this place. When the rivers commence being in flood, 

 adults are able to ascend to feeding-grounds which were previously in- 

 accessible to them. Having spawned, they keep dropping gently down 

 stream, during which time the amount of water is diminishing ; thus the 

 ova, when hatched, are completely cut off from the locality where their 

 parents reside, precluding their making a meal of them. The fry, there- 

 fore, have the heads of the rivers to themselves in perfect security, and 

 each torrent becomes transformed into a small stream intersected by 

 pools, where they can remain until the next rain enables them to de- 

 scend to the larger rivers. Of the migratory fishes of the plains we 

 may observe many forms of carp, and this is more particularly observ- 

 able where impassable weirs exist in Indian rivers; here they may be 

 perceived in attempting to jump over the obstruction, and so common 



