i^EB. 1, 1904,] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
54« 
Stream 150, Bopata 200, Masksliya 30'J, Kurunclii- 
oya 150, Halsi""noya 150, Piindnloya 150, Uva 
• Patna Stream 150, D.iuibagastalawa Ova 00, M:-, 
A. L. Kirk, for a datn in Hapiitiilu CO, Jlr. A. li. 
Wiggin, tor a dam iu Liiidula 60, Mr. A. H.Lncas. 
for a dam in Pusscllawa 60, Mr, A. Craib, for a dam 
in Dikoya 60, Mr. C. H. Bftgot for a otew Pond at 
St. Leonards 60, Mr. W. P. Dew, for a stream in 
TfJawkolo .90, Mr. L. T. Boustead, for a stream in 
Oliphant Estate 70.— Total 3,000. 
Percentage of return on above from consignment of 
20,(100, ova was 15 per cent. 
Oat of the 10,000, Biown Trout ova 3,73?. fry ware 
put out, a fair reUuu, considering the difficulties atteu- 
dent on the hatching out and rearing' of this species. 
The temperature of the water iu Muwara Bliya being 
too high for them. The Brown Trout Fry were dis- 
tributed as follows: — 
Nuwara Eliya Stream i,750, Ambawella 875, K.mda- 
polla and BuUehella streams 350, Bopats Stream 175 
N'lwara Eliya Stew Ponds 233.— Total 3,733. 
The percentage of return on the above consign- 
ment of 10,000 wns 27 per cent. 
A statement of the fish caught and cf those Iwpt by 
license holders is appended to this report. Ths 
Managing Committee agreed to the capture of locally 
bred. • 
Kainbow fry for distribution as follows: — 
25 (Mr Masefiald; for Dambagastalawa from 
Nuwara Eliya streams. 25 {Mr G G Koss ClarkeJ for 
Rajapatna streams from Nnwara Eliya streams. 100 
(Mr Neill G Campbell) for Elk Stieama and Miles 
Patna from Nawara Eliya Streams. 
APPLICATION FOR GOVERNMENT GRANT. 
Mr. Eraser's letter was then put before the 
meeting : — 
ToB M daODUoyShiH Eiq. Hn.Ssov., Oaylon F C. 
Abbotsford, Nat.uoya, 17th Nov. 1903. 
Dear Sir. — Some two years ago I suggested that the 
Ceylon Fishing Club should approach GovernmeEt and 
aek for a grant of money to assist us in running the 
Olub on a more extensive and useful scale. My sug- 
gestion received liitle or no encouragement then, but 
as the subject ha' cropped up repeatedly since with 
seemingly more support though no actual tiugible 
result, I now write to give notice that I shall, at our 
next General Meeting, bring foiws.rd a resolulion to 
the effect that Government be asked to support us 
in making the Club a more generally useful institu- 
tion than we can possibly do with cur very limited 
means. — I am. Sir, Zours faithfully, 
(Signed.) John Eraser. 
Mr FilA.SER, — said that al! civilissd Governments 
the world over helped institutions like theiiB. Their 
own Government had not done sufficient towards 
advancing the inteiests of the Oiub wliicli was 
exactly iu the same position as 10 or 15 years ago, 
barrinj,' that their fish were breeding freely. But 
nolhini; was done to collect the ova ond further 
the breeding in tliestreams. Tlie Oiub had noi the 
means to ilo it with. He suggested that a Sub- 
Comraittee approach Governnient for a grant — a 
wee little bib out of the prolits taken from the 
fishing. 
Mr J WiCKWAR (interrupting)— what fishing ? 
Mr J FrasI'.r. — Why the pearl fishing, of course 
(laughter) I had some shares in it, but I got 
notliiug (renewed laughter.) All they wanted 
was a little assistance from the Government to 
help them to do things on a bigger scale ; for 
himself he wanted to see lish iu every stream 
in the Island. Theii fi<h were breeding and witli 
care and funds they could preseive the Ova 
from their streams aud rear ihem for the use of 
European and n.ilive alike. It would 1,'ter de- 
velop into a good business. Beside stcclving their 
streams for food, they would be able to sell 
fry. Trout, he could prove, would thrive in all 
waters in Ceylon. Tliey would live and grow in 
the waters about TrincoiagJ^ee and Battioaioa. 
To protect (he fish agabi}^ ,^pD;v';lier,=i was a 
dillicult ni.atter. ' But tha? could also be 
managed if • all the GovernmeMfc Agent.^, A 
G A'.s &c,, dowu to bobbies v/ou'd keep their 
weather eye open (laughter.) He did not 
miud a little poaching but if it was carried to 
excess it would never do. 
Mr J Wickwar:— I don't think so. 
Mr .FRAS15R — but I do. I know wliere all the 
Trout Ova comes from; they come from Florida. 
If Ova can be preserved in Florida out of Trout 
from streavns about there, they ought to thrive 
every wliere aud in Ceylon an<t in India. 
Florida was 20 degrees North of the equator while 
Ceylon was about S. The waters in Floriila v/ere 
far and away warmer tliau in Ceylon. Wliy should 
they not have trout as food for i he general 
comnumitj? They wanted a small sum for construct- 
ing hatcheries. If Government would give that, 
they could manage the rest. Mr Fraser quoted 
figures for the last three years for importing ova. 
The hatcheries would not be extravagant things; 
all the money spent on importing ova would be 
saved. They would co.st K3,000 or I14,00J. From 
their savings they could get out an expert to 
instruct their local expert. His wages would nob 
cost .3'is a week. Let them run the Club decently 
and sell ova to all au'l sundry, Mr Fraser read 
extracts from Field {re Ireland) and other local 
papers (re Scotland, Tasmania, Nevf Zealand, and 
the Transvaal) which was being beliied by the 
C;ipe Government. >Some of the hatcheries were 
self-i)aying ; some netted large incomes from the 
hatcheries. 
Mr G G Koss Clarke— put forward the 
following names :— The Hon. Mr G M Fowler, 
Messrs. Thoujas Farr, John Fraser and W A 
Spiirliag. 
Mr. Sparling— supported Mr Fraser's motion 
in an inteiesiing speech. He said he could nnb 
ahiuk of a more foolish policy then to import 
Ova from i foreign countries when the Club 
had the Ova at their very doors ; a policy 
like that of the Cardiff coal mercliant who 
imported coal from Calcutta to supply British 
steamships. Their own scheme in the past had 
been extremely succe.vsful, considering that it had 
been carried on by private subscriptions in the 
first; place and the funds of the Club later. It had 
been a cheap success; but it was the duty of the 
Club to do sometliiog better. Many trout- 
fishers could tell them of the female trout they 
had fished out, fully laden with ova and others 
perhaps of the mala trout with mill, aud they 
ouly lequired to fertilise ova, with milt which 
nature would not do, to obtaiu an indefinite supply, 
they wanted some one fpom Home to teach 
them bow to fertilise this ova properly. The ova 
in the streams was being wasted. Mr Fraser did 
not give full force to this point. Ceylon was a 
small place, but adjidning it was the rich and 
enormous Continent of India, where streams 
abounded, just as suitable as theirs were for rain- 
bow and brown trout. If they could provide 
liulia with ova, they had very good grounds for 
asking for slight assi.>tance from Governnient. 
He did not see how Government could refuse. 
The subject was one in whicli be felD very 
strongly as a sportsman, and as a sportsmau he 
would do bis best on the suggested Sub committee. 
The raotiou was carried with acclamation. 
