N-Q. 1 (1921) ADMlNISTRATIOiq' REPOUT, 1919-20 19 



In November 1918 the Government approved of a piscicultural 

 scheme for the Mopad tank in Nellore district. The Public Works 

 Department have been requested to arrange for the construction of 

 the farm. 



In May 1919 the Government sanctioned the fishing of the 

 Kanigiri-Duvur reservoir. The detailed plans and estimates are 

 under preparation by the Public Works Department. 



67 . All suitable tanks of the Ganjam district have been surveyed 

 and a complete scheme for the organization of the fisheries is under 

 preparation. 



68. Legislation. — Considerable difficulty has been experienced in 

 working out complete and comprehensive schemes for the waters of 

 three districts (Chingleput, Nellore and Ganjam) and the Cauvery 

 river owing to the existence of private fishery rights and to the varied 

 and undetermined tenures of fishery rights obtaining in the difPerent 

 districts. For example Mr. Wilson's scheme for the establishment 

 of a floating hatchery to breed artificially the most valuable of Indian 

 herrings, the hilsa, in the Colair lake has been held up for the last 

 seven years owing to the existence of stake nets in ths [Tpputeru, 

 as the smallest fry have no chance of escaping the numerous rows 

 of small meshed stake nets. Proposals for the introduction of a Bill 

 in the local Legislative Council for the determination and if necessary 

 the acquisition of private fishing rights in the inland waters of the 

 Presidency have been submitted to the Government. 



69. Co'Operaiive movement. — A notable feature of the year's 

 work is the initial step taken towards the formation of co- 

 operative societies amongst fresh water fishermen. The fishermen 

 of certain villages on the bank of the Cauvery represented their 

 inability to bid against rich Muhammadan gentlemen who purchase 

 the fisheries of the Cauvery river in auctions and later sublease the 

 fisheries to the fishermen for exorbitant sums, thus obtaininsj large 

 profits at the expense of the Government and of the fishermen. The 

 large communities of Oriya fishermen in Ganjam have agreed to 

 form themselves into co-operative societies. 



Government Fisheries Cannery, Chaliyam. 



70. General. — Mr. H. L. Prager, Inspector oE Salt and Abkari 

 Department, was appointed business manager and took charge from 

 Sir Frederick Nicholson on 5th December 1P19. Though Sir 

 Frederick Nicholson formally severed his connexion with the 

 cannery, he continued to take a lively interest in it and was of great 

 assistance to Mr. Prager. 



71. Machinery. — Work was handicapped by the necessity of 

 repairing some of the machinery. The swan-neck press for stamping 

 lids and all the dies were sent to the Public Works Workshops, 



