7 
| 

1908.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. xevil 
coramnpis ree aca from its young state. And the Brighten Aqua- 
of this fish had been thought to be much slower than observation - 
and experiment have proved. 
mong the numerous problems that await investigation 
in connexion with the fishing — ry of India, the following 
few may be briefly indicated here :— 
Jishes, its ak and quantity; the amount of 
Food of 
_ food available has much to do with the fish supply. 
Habits and Life-histories of Food-fishes. 
ae = naturalist in charge of the proposed 
aqua may b t to China to study fish- ob in fresh- 
water Ponda in that an tt and to Japan and A 
The pond-culture of fish may = carried on in the same 
systematic way as it is done in Germany. 
Artificial fecundation by mixing eggs and milt together is 
practically unknown in India. An aquarium will offer to natural- 
ists splendid opportunities for carrying out researches on this line. 
Disease of fish—Thorough and persistent laboratory wo 
Sager. to discover the various causes that bring about inches 
shes. It is well known that parasitic worms, tiny yoke 
teschess and other aquatic vermin find lodgment in fishes, an 
induce diseased conditions in them. Careful investigation into 
the naturej{and,’character of the pel parasites may lead to 
important discoveries. A Fish-scare caused by an influx of an 
unusually large number of diseased bakit into is market is not 
uncommon in Bengal. Several such scares have occurr uring 
the last thirty-five years. In 1873-74, the writer of — 
notes had the privilege fof dissecting, under proper guidan 
large number of fish of various kinds. Most of them were fouud 
to be infested with ease ii worms. 
This list is not exhaus 
Very little need, be said on the proven scientific impo : 
ance of an aquarium for the convenien 
meer oet = not eg study of biological problems, t 
—— f which would have remained yet 
unsolved, but for the Peis existence of aquaria and zoological 
stations like those at Naples, Plymouth, and at other centres. 
e following few extracts from an account of the Zoological 
sieges at Naples’ will serve to show the methods and aims of 
n aquarium conducted on scientific lines :— 
“The Zoological station at cr a is an institution for the 
advancement of biological science—that is, comparative anatomy, 
zoology, botany, and physiology. It serves ‘this end by providing the 
biologist with the various objects of his study and the necessary 
