June 1, 1901.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
837 
Mr. Fraser. — His bag was 45 lb 14 oz. in March. 
Mr, Eagot.— Yes. I've seen tliab in writ- 
iug. 
Mr. de WiNTON, — He fishes time after time 
in still water. 
On the Chairman s suggestion, it was resolved 
in the name of the Club) to ask Mr. for 
an explanation and, if it was not satisfactory, to 
cancel his membership. 
lb;tters from mr. fark. 
The following letters were then read froai Mr. 
Farr, by the Chairman. They were read piece- 
meal and discussed, but we give the letters as 
they stand :— 
North Cove, Bogawautalawa, March 16. 
The Hon. Secretary, Ceylon Fishing Club. 
Dear Sir. — (1) Has any rale been made about the 
takins; of rainbow trout this year in Newara Eliya 
or elsewhere or is the old rule of last season " that 
they are to be returned to the water '' to hold good ? 
I am of opinion that last season's rule should re- 
main in force or, should this not meet with the approval 
of the majority, that the limit for these fish be raised 
to 12". 
(II) I wish to propose the opening of the upper 
reaches of the Horton Plains stream. This water has 
been closed now about 2 years, with what object it 
is difficult to imagine, for it is, I should say, the 
very worst breeding ground on the Horton Plains. 
(III) Is the close season on the Horton Plains to 
commence on the same day as at Nuwara Bliya or 
is it to be deferred until November 30th, 1901. — I am. 
Sir, Yours faithfully Thos. Farr. 
North Cove, Bogawantatawa,, April 20. 
The Hon, Secretary, Ceylon Fishing Club. 
Dear Sir, — I find members are retaining all rain- 
bow trout of 11 inches and upwards — would yon kindly 
send a notice of the resolution of the managing Com- 
mittee.— Yours faithfully, Tho?. Farr. 
[The resolution was that rainbow trout of above 
12 inches only should be taken. — Ed.. 
SIZE OF FISH. 
Mr Farr urged his proposal that the size-limit 
of rainbow trout taken should be raised to 12 
inches. 
Mr Bagot asked what the difference in weight 
was. Mr Farr said he had caught one 15 inches 
long weighing IJIb ; and Mr Fraser 15 inches, 
weighing lib 7oz. Mr Farr added that 11-inch, 
fish were very good to return. Mr Fraser second- 
ing, this was. carried. ' 
FENCED AREA IN THE HORTON PLAINS, 
Mr Farr said, with regard to the stream in 
question, it was very muddy, had very steep banks 
and little sand. The fish caught there tasted muddy 
and were black underneath, 
Mr Bagot asked when these upper reaches were 
fir.st reserved. 
Mr Fraser said 2 years ago. ' 
Mr Farr said no fry were pub there for fear they 
should be eaten. 
Mr Fbaser proposed they should be kept closed 
indefinitely, the black appearance of the fishes 
indicating that they were ready to spawn and 
went to this quarter on that account. There was 
no better breeding ground in Ceylon. Mr Bagot say- 
ing that, if trout were going to breed, they would 
breed anywhere (except in deep water), Mr Fraser 
urged that, though this was true, if they were going 
to reserve any portion, these upper reaches were 
best suited for reserve water. 
After discussion Mr. Fraser withdrew his 
ameadraent, and Mr, Farr moved that the up- 
per reaches ot the Horton Plains stream be 
thmwn open, but that the tributaries through- 
out the Plains be closed water. 
CLOSE SEASON FOB 1901-2. 
Mr. Farr said he wished to see the Open Sea- 
son prolonged, as it had been curtailed by a month 
at the beKiniiins;. 
The meeting agreed to the fixing of the season for 
the Central Province from October 31st to the end 
of February ; and tor the Sabaraganiuwa Province 
from November 30th to March ."Jlst. 
OVA. 
The CHAIRMAN stated they had ordered three 
consignments of Ova from the Earl of Den- 
bigh's, the Wyresdale, and New Zealand hatch- 
fries, of 1.5,000, 10,»00, and 5,000 ova each. 
The first were received, the second were not 
sent after all, and for the third the order had not 
yet actually been sent off. He read the following 
from the Wyresdale fisiiery Co :— 
The Wyresdale Fishery Co., Ltd., Scorton, Gars- 
tang, Lancashire, April 2nd. 
E M de C Short, Esq., Hon Secretary, Pishing 
Club, Eluja, Colombo, Ceylon. 
Dear Sir, — I was very sorry that the matter of the 
rainbow ova to be sent by our firm to your Club 
fell through at the last moment. We communicated 
with the P & O Co., as well as the Orient, and although 
we did our best to arrange matters they point blank 
refused to carry the ova to Colombo. I then made a 
special journey to Liverpool to consult with the Bibby 
Line, whose Manager I saw, and he very kindly un- 
dertook to do everything possible for us, but as 
your instructions were so emphatic about receiving the 
fish before the 15th of March no boat was available 
which would land the ova at Colombo before the latter 
end of March or early in April. 
I suggested to Mr. Leeming, as an additional 
assurance that the ova would land in Colombo in 
fairly good condition, and so as to shorten the sea 
voyage, that he would allow us to send one of onr 
staff to Marseilles to hand over the ova to the steam- 
boat authorities there, as by this means we would 
reduce the voyage by five or six days. 
Perhaps you will kindly communicate with me by 
and bye, and let me know whether your Club would 
care to place an order with us for execution next 
season. We would be quite willing to share in the 
expense of one of our staff going to Marseilles, or if 
you cared we might consider whether it were advisable 
to send you Alevins, that is, of course, the fish, 
directly they hatch out, before their umbilical sac is 
absorbed. 
When you write me, please let me know what sort 
of temperature yon would have in Ceylon, say about 
the beginning or naiddle of May. 
I am very sorry that this years order has fallen 
through, but we still hope to see our rainbow breed 
of trout introduced into Ceylon. — Yours truly, 
Andrew Henby, Secy. 
The Chairman mentioned that Mr. Elhart had 
found the Denbigh ova excellently kept on board, 
bub that nothing came of them. They now had 
1,500 fry for distribution. They would certainly 
be glad to send another order to Wyresdale 
hatcheries but the question was what was to be 
done about the Denbigh order which had failed. 
After discussion it was resolved (1.) to send 
another order to Wyresdale Co. and (2.) as it 
was against their positive instructions that the 
Denbigh consignment was packed, tliey(the Ceylou 
Fishing Club) desired to know what they pro- 
posed to do. 
DUTY ON OVA. 
The discussion on this evaporated in a few 
minutes, it being found that the duty was very 
