Jan. 2, 1S99.] 
THE TROPICAL AGPJCULTIIPJST. 
Lo observe and report— we must be content for the 
present wicli hoiie and importation. 
SUBJECTS OF GENERAL INTEREST. 
I am anxious to extend the operations of 
the C.F.C. in one or two directions. 
(i) I think a further effort should be made 
to import "Gourami" into Ceylon. I have ven- 
tuied LO add, in an appernlix, an interesting letter 
.signtd "C. L).,' wliicli appeared in the Observer 
on the subject of this fish, and is a sufficient 
testimonj' to its value. The last experiment 
failed because the impoited fish (which arrived 
quite safely from Mauritius) weie all brought up 
to Nuwara Eliya, where the climate is too cold 
for Iheui, and they all dieil the lirst night. I am 
in corresjiondence with Messrs !Scott& Co. of Mauri- 
tirisanil Messrs. BoisBrothers, agents of the Jiritish 
Iiidia Company, and if they are kind enough lo 
help, I will ask the Clubonalater occasion for 
a vote. 
(-2) With the help of Mr. F. G. Saunder, I 
iuive made out from that valuable book "'Tank 
Aiigling in Intlia," a list of fish procurable locally 
which are likely to alford good sport and good 
eating if introduced into tanks. I am employing 
my headmen to collect as many varieties as 
possible from the rivers of this di.-strict, and pro- 
|)Ose to put them into Barrack L'lains reservoir, 
the large i)ond at Queen's Cottage (kindly lent us 
by H. I'j. the Governor) and the various other ponds 
in the place. If this succeeds the next step will 
lift to import yet more varieties from India. 
Mr. Saunders letter and list, which will be fonnti 
appended to this leport, will, I am sure, be read 
with interest. 
(3) . The importation of trout ova from New 
Ze iland would, I am certain, be worth trying. 
They have had there the same difficulties about 
spawning as we have ha i, and have overcome 
them, and it is quite possible that the ova of 
these acclimatised trout would do better here 
than those imuorted (rom England. I am not with- 
out hope that, by means of certain influential aid 
ill the matter, I may be able to obtain a consign- 
ment. 
(4) . Mr. George Fowler suggests that it would 
be well worth while to try and import May-lly 
larva'. It is quite certain that the very large 
trout in our lakes and streams here are sluggish 
aud do not rise freely to flies, either, because 
tlieir fancy fly is absent, or because they get 
an abundance of food at the bottom. It may be 
tliat the presence of May-llies on the water would 
get them out of these bad and unsportsman-Iike 
habits ; so I have asked Messrs. Andrews to send 
out a cou'^igninent of May-fly larvic with the first 
•ot of trout ova ; aud I am sure the Club will join 
with uie in wishing success to the corrective diet. 
(5) . As to the migration of tish, Mr. George 
Fowler writes : — ■' When at Bililiuloya, I heard 
that a villager hail caught a trout of about I lb. 
weight down below the road. It must have been 
washed down the river, descending about 6,000 feet 
in a very short ilistance, 
(()| I have also, on the suggestion of Mr. Dew, 
asked Messrs Andrews to send out a consignment 
of gniyliiig to be sent to us with the lirst or 
second consignment of ova. There seems to be every 
probability that ilicy will do well in these waters, 
anil the experiment will be well worth trying. 
As this is iirobalily the last report I shall have 
the honour of laying before the Clul), I may 
))erliaps exiu-ess my regret that its management 
has not fallen into nioie experienced hands than 
niyowii, and at Hio same time say what pleasure it 
57 
has given me to be even of the slightest use to such 
a sporting institution as the Ceylon Fishing Club. 
(Signed) S. M. BuKKOWs, 
Hony. Secretary. 
APREN DICES. 
National Bank of India, Ltd. Nuwara Eliya, Nov. 
10th 189a. 
I certify that the balance standing at credit of the 
account; in the name of Ceylon Fishing Club at the 
close of business on .31st October at this Bank was 
E491-79 (say rupees four hundred aud ninety one and 
cents seventj-nine. — Signed, -J. D. Mureay, Agent. 
Nuwava Eliya,. 2Qd October. 
The Hony. Secretary, re- Ceylon Fishing Club, 
Nuwara Eliya. 
ItE-STOCKING THE MUVvARA ELIYA LAKES WITH FISH. 
Dear Sir, — Eeferring to our conversation on the 
above subject, I find the method ''f stocking tanks 
etc., with fish, recommended in Tank Angling in 
India" to be as follows ;- 
Fresli wa er fish in the tropics are liighly migratory 
— it is as fry that they migrate, either in search of food 
or to escape their natural enemies. This instinct drives 
them to leave the rivers and tanks and to ascend the 
smaller streams where they too often fall victims to the 
native fisherman's basket work craps or " cruives." 
It is there theu the fry can be obtained for stock- 
ing purposes — (at a cost in India of eight annas per 
1000). The usual method of transport is to place the 
fry in round earthenware chatties fixed toa^pingo" 
the moatli of the pot being covered by a net of fine 
mesh ; (a cloth should not be used as this keeps out 
the necessary circulation of sir), the oscillation of 
the pots keeps tlie water in motion and thus renews 
the supply of oxygen to the wn ter without which the 
fish would be asphyxiated. The open net also allows 
occasional inspection of the fry. Tfiis is necessary as 
dead fry should be removed immediately to prevent 
the water from being coiit-jminated. Fry of 
several food varieties offish are obtainable in Ceylon, 
and no doubt could be obtained through the good 
offices of headmen in the low-count: y. 
Information as to getting otlier kinds of fry from 
India would doubtless be willingly accorded by the 
Hony. Secretary. "Rod in Inoia" Club, Madras. 
In this connection I may state that the nuthor of 
" Tank Angling ill India" sent Mahseer fry to Nuwara 
Eliya from 3'27 mdes beyond iVIadras, and out of 21 fry 
shipped, 19 arrived well and vigorous. They being 
fed on Mosquito larvae. 
I append list of fresh water fishes to be found 
either in India or Ceylon suitable for stocking purpo- 
ses. — I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, F G Saundf.r. 
P.<S'.— It is obvious that fishes having Sinhalese 
names are to be found in Ceylon, and very possibly 
the others whose Sinhalese names I have been unable 
to find out. It would be wise ia introducing the 
larger varieties of fish to also include any small varie- 
ties, such as food for the trout that may be procurable 
List or 
Scientific 
name. 
Labeo 
(several 
varieties) 
Cirrhina cir- 
rhosa(white 
carp) 
Fresh Water Fish suitable 
Stockino Purposes. 
Sinha- 
lese. 
Petiya 
Tamil. 
Shaal- 
candai 
Remarks. 
Ven- 
candai 
Barbua 
chrysopoma 
(Olive Carp) 
iJarbus carn- 
aticns (Car- 
natic Carp) 
Thani- 
candai 
Foaree 
or Saal- 
candai 
Keudeya 
(Continued.) 
Grows to .3 feet in 
length and averages 
5 to 20 lb, weight. 
Grows lo 1 A feet in 
length; avery active 
fidi and good eating 
— an allied species 
"Cirrhina mrigala'' 
runs up to 18 lb. wt. 
Attains at least 2') 
lb. in weight lias 
been introduced into 
tlie Ootacamund 
Ltiko. 
