460 INDIAN CYPRINID^. 



cies in the same water, it would probably answer the purpose better to have 

 one of them only as a principal species, with any one of the common Gudge- 

 ons or Bangons of India as a cheaper article, which would not require more 

 than a year or two at the utmost to arrive at perfection. Beyond a single spe- 

 cies of Gobio, and a single one of the larger species already mentioned, more 

 ought not to be introduced to the same water, or allowed to exist in it, from the 

 danger of their proving inimical to each other, a point which I presume has 

 never been attended to sufficiently in attempts hitherto made to propagate 

 fishes ; hence, perhaps, the want of that degree of success which no doubt would 

 have rendered a practice so simple and beneficial, long since universal. 



The only alteration in the present form of the reservoirs to adapt them 

 to the purposes in view, would be to enclose the lowest portions of the bottom 

 of each with stakes, long enough to reach above the highest surface of the 

 water, and close enough together to prevent the entrance of crocodiles, otters, 

 and the like, should any such exist in the neighborhood. The spawning sea- 

 son of the Ruee and other Cirrhins, appears to be in the dry weather ; the con- 

 trivance here suggested would therefore protect them at that time, and if there 

 should be any danger of the whole of the water drying up, wells of sufficient 

 size and depth might be formed within the enclosure, to which the fishes would 

 retire during droughts, while the shallow waters around the wells would afford 

 space enough for the deposit of spawn. 



Much of our success would depend on keeping these enclosures as free as 

 possible from all but the species we desire to propagate. At the commence- 

 ment of the dry season, before the fish begin to enter the enclosure, the inter- 

 val between the stakes might be closed with straw, and as the water becomes 

 sufficiently low without, most of the rapacious kinds may be removed or de- 

 stroyed ; none should be allowed to remain, but that species alone which may 

 be the object of our care. This done, the only further attention necessary, 

 would be to save the fish in the enclosure from birds during the remainder of 

 the dry season. 



