!? = 



given at specific time, once a day, about 8 o'clock in- the 

 morning and the water is beaten with fingers at the feeding 

 board, the fish will saoii learn and come to take food. 



As rice-bran costs high', and ais fresh' duckweed can by 

 found, and grown easily, the- former Is sometimes substituted 

 by the latter. At the Bang-Kheh Fishpond Station, termites 

 which are easily found are also fed as additional food. The 

 fish takes these vigorously. 



To prevent the pond water from fouling by the remain and 

 waste of rice-bran the remain on the feeding board is taken 

 out in the following morning, and the waste falling from the 

 feeding board to the bottcm Is checked by placing a king of 

 fresh-water- snails , locally known as hol-kom, Vivlpara . 



NATURAL ENEMIES . 



. Pla salid has many varieties of natural onemies, Ot+--er 

 ( Xutra sp .), turtles, v/ater snakes, ca.tfighes ( Clarias sp .). 

 serpent-headed fishes ( Ophicephalus' sp .) and flsheating birds 

 such as heron^ , cormorants, and king-fishers, are enemies of 

 the adult. Progs, toads, climbing -perch ( Anabas- ) and other 

 small fishes prey mpoji tne fry and the eggs. However, the 

 most dreaded are watersnakes and serpent-headed fishes. "' . 



. FROPAGAT I ON ' IN WOODEN \ TAMS . 



As. it Is found that it is difficult' tc protect, pla. salld 

 from enemies, axrd to' re flue e the loss of eggs and fry as much 

 as possible, the- propagation in wooden- tanks is resorted to. 

 Such a tank is made of .teak, I.5 metres wide, 5 metres long,. 

 and 60 centimetres deep. Clear water is put Into the tank 

 yp to the depth of .I|.0 centimetres. The tank is three-fourth 

 .covered with a thatched shed erected about 1. metre- above it. 

 Nes-fcs of pla salid, with eggs and Ipomea , are ■ transferred 

 from the- spawning pond to the* wooden tank, and are allowed 

 to develop therein. This method of propagation gives better 



