Chapt. hi. Advantages of these peculiarities. 27 



It may fairly be concluded therefore that the Mahseer 

 which is prepared to lay one or two more hatches of eggs 

 is in good reproducing condition, is in fact in high con- 

 dition, although it may have already laid one or more 

 batches that season. 



A reason for their laying in batches may be interest- 

 ing. Indian rivers are very variable in their depth, a 

 tropical sun and a thirsty land drying up the streams 

 that feed them, and reducing them rapidly to very much 

 smaller dimensions than they boasted during the rains. 

 The change in their size is both greater and more rapid 

 than in European rivers. It would not be well therefore 

 for the fish in them to spawn by the same rule as the 

 fish in European waters. The ova laid in one place 

 might be high and dry in a few days, and the whole lay- 

 ing lost. It would be like committing an army to the 

 Great Eastern instead 6f dividing the risks by consigning 

 it to several troop-ships. By laying in several batches 

 not only are the chances of success multiplied, but the 

 fry are more widely dispersed over the rivers, and by 

 happy experience discover for themselves the force of the 

 proverb "the fewer the better the cheer." There is little 

 doubt the fry of the Mahseer eat, amongst other things, 

 the fry of the smaller sorts of fish; these are much bred 

 in the smaller feeders. Where such streamlets fall into 

 the river therefore, each batch of Mahseer finds a separate 

 table d'hote. 



An inventory of the contents of a Mahseer's stomach 

 ought not to be without interest to a fisherman, for un- 



4* 



