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part. However, group-wise notes giving further details of these forms are
given below :—
PALL A OR INDIAN SHAD (Hilsa ilisha)
Palla or Pala is one of the popular seasonal fishes of Bombay. It is an
anadromous fish spending part of its life in the sea and ascending rivers
for breeding. It is, therefore, claimed both as marine as well as fresh-water
fish. It ascends rivers for breeding in the months of July and August and is
caught during that period only. The adults return to the sea after breeding
and the young ones go to sea after four or five months' growth in
freshwater.
Palla is one of the large clupeids growing to about 24 inches or 60 cm. in
length and weighing 2 kg. when full grown, Though it has a number of
small bones, it is highly esteemed as food-fish. It is quite popular even on
the eastern coast of India where it occurs in the tributaries of the Ganges,
Godavari and Krishna. On the west coast it is found in the Narbada. In
Maharashtra, it was only in the Ulhas river that the fish used to ascend, but
because of recent pollution on account of effluents discharged from
Industrial concerns near Kalyan, the fishery is now almost extinct. The
fish is seen in small numbers in other streams such as the Vaitarna, Savitri,
Amba etc., but does not form a sizeable fishery. Fishes ascending these
small rivers are also small in size.
(2) FEATHERBACK OR RAZOR FISH
A small tuft-like dorsal fin and also a thin razor sharp anal fin have earned
the common popular names of these fishes. Only two species of the family
Notopteridae occur in Maharashtra, the most common being Notopterus,
known as 'Chalat' or ‘Patre’. This is a small bony fish not very much
prized as food fish, but is common in most of the rivers. It does not grow
beyond a foot in length. Its another cousin, N. chitala grows to a large size
but is found only in a few eastern streams in the Vidarbha region. It is a
carnivorous fish and is usually excluded from culturable waters.
FAUNA 154