On the Death of Fishes during the Monsoon off the Coast of India

Abstract

On steaming between Mangalore and Cananore, on the west coast of the Peninsula, I was sensible of a very offensive smell, which at last I found to proceed from the sea itself. When I landed at Cananore, I found that the sea-breeze brought in a similar smell—a little modified in intensity, of course; and, on inquiry, I found that for some time after the S.W. monsoon the sea was always very offensive,—that thousands of fish were thrown up on the shore dead. The cause of this was attributed to the mass of fresh water poured into the sea during the monsoon. In three months, 120 inches of rain, on an average, fall upon an area of, say, 60 miles in width, for the whole length of the coast-line, from each running mile of this coast; therefore there will be about 800,000,000 of gallons poured into the sea daily; but, as most of this will come out of the rivers, of course, at certain points, the quantity will be multiplied twofold. The natural consequence will be the destruction of all animal and vegetable life, which, being adapted for salt water, must die after a time in fresh water. There will, therefore, be layers of Shells covered by strata of sand and mud. Sea-weeds in various stages of decomposition, and Fish, small and great, deposited at the bottom of these seas. I saw thousands of dead fish floating, and there were, no doubt, thousands lying dead at the bottom.