118 



Indian Cyprimdce. 



which our author has studied the minute anatomy of his subjects, 

 must claim from all readers their admiration. 



Published as this treatise is, by a Society whose " Transactions" 

 have become so voluminous, and are with difficulty procured, it can- 

 not be extensively circulated or known among American naturalists ; 

 I would notice therefore a few points of general interest, selected 

 from the portion of this paper just referred to. 



In some parts of India, many of the species of fishes are found in 

 immense quantities. Our author, after describing Cyprinuschola, re- 

 marks: " Casting a net into a pond in Middle Assam, not presenting 

 any remarkable appearance of containing fish, about one hundred and 

 twenty were brought up at a single draught" — (nine species captured 

 are here mentioned). " The extent of the pond may have been four 

 hundred yards, and that of the net three yards ; and supposing half 

 the fish to have escaped from under the net, the number in the pond 

 would have been thirty-two thousand. When we consider the vast 

 extent of surface occupied by waters equally productive, both in 

 Bengal and Assam, we may form a conception of the inexhaustible 

 supply of fish that might be procured for consumption in other parts 

 of the country where they are less plentiful." p. 384. Several species 

 are useful not merely as an article of food; speaking of Cy prims cur sis. 

 Dr. M'Clelland observes, " It is a beautiful fish, common in Bengal 

 and Assam as high as Sudyah, but being full of bones, is little valu- 

 ed as an article of food. If it be less useful in this respect than other 

 Cirrhins, it is more serviceable than we are aware of, in common with 

 the numerous Gudgeons in clearing the indolent waters of the plains 

 from a redundancy of vegetation with which they would otherwise be 

 choked up." p. 330. Many of the species are of great value as 

 excellent and nutritious food, and might be rendered infinitely more 

 so, could they be salted when taken, or be transported and allowed 

 to propagate in other portions of the country. Thus the Barbus 

 megalepis, which is an admirable fish, is " peculiar to remote unpopu- 

 lated districts, where no attempts are made to cure ; they are conse- 

 quently lost to the wants of other places, where an unlimited demand 

 for dried fish must prevail at all seasons, but particularly during the 

 rains and hot weather, when fresh fish become scarce. There can be 

 no doubt that if some relaxation of salt duties could be made in favor 



