CHILKA LAKE.--This marine lake is a shallow lagoon measuring about 40
miles in length and 10 miles in breadth, and formed in geologically
recent times by the growth of a narrow sand-bank across the mouth of a
wide bay. At its northern end it communicates with the sea by a narrow
channel, and throughout its length it is strongly affected by the tides.
At its south end, which is actually situated in the Ganjam district of
Madras, the water is distinctly brackish and is said to be nearly fresh
at certain times of year. At this end there are numerous small
artificial pools of brackish water somewhat resembling those of Port
Canning as regards their fauna.
SUR (or SAR) LAKE.--A shallow, freshwater lake of very variable size
situated a few miles north of Puri on the Orissa coast. In origin it
probably resembled the Chilka Lake, but it is now separated from the sea
by about 3 miles of barren sand dunes, among which numerous little pools
of rain-water are formed during the rains. These dry up completely in
winter, and even the lake itself is said sometimes almost to disappear,
although when it is full it is several miles in length. The fauna is
essentially a freshwater one, but includes certain Mysidæ and other
crustacea usually found in brackish water.
_Bombay Presidency._
BOMBAY.--The town of Bombay, built on an island near the mainland, is
situated close to swamps and creeks of brackish water not unlike those
that surround Calcutta. Its "tanks," however, differ from those of
Calcutta in having rocky bottoms and, in many cases, in drying up
completely in the hot weather. Of the fauna of the swamps extremely
little is known, but so far as the sponges and polyzoa of the tanks are
concerned the work undertaken by Carter was probably exhaustive.
IGATPURI.--Igatpuri is situated at an altitude of about 2000 feet, 60
miles north-east of Bombay. Above the town there is a lake of several
square miles in area whence the water-supply of several stations in the
neighbourhood is obtained. The water is therefore kept free from
contamination. The bottom is composed of small stones and slopes
gradually up at the edges. During the dry weather its level sinks
considerably. Several interesting sponges and polyzoa have been found in
this lake, most of them also occurring in a small pond in the
neighbourhood in which clothes are washed and the water is often full of
soap-suds.
_Southern India._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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