No, 1 (1921) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1919-20 15 



56. Proposals Lave been made to add a workshop and a laboratory 

 to the aquarium owing to the lack of sufficient space for research 

 and supply work and to provide a filter- well on the foreshore 

 whence fresh sea-water can be pumped every day into the 

 aquarium. 



57. Pulicat Oyster Park. — The oyster season in 1919 closed on 

 the 15th September 1 919, whereas in the previous year it had 

 been kept open till the 6th November. The season of 1920 opened 

 on 15th March, whereas in the previous year it opened on the 17th 

 Februarv. The season was affected by rain which reduced the 

 salinity of the water in the Pulicat lake. During the year under 

 report*^ 133,450 oysters were supplied as against 404,850 in the 

 previous year, the receipts and expenditure were Es. l,715-?-6 

 and Rs. 1,860-0-6 as against Rs. 1,930-13-3 and Rs. 1,820-15-3 

 in the previous year. There was therefore a loss in 1919-20 of 

 Rs. 144-7-0 as against a profit of Rs. 109-14-0 in the previous 

 year. The loss is ascribed to the short period when the oysters 

 were in suitable condition for the table, and the increase in freight 

 and carriage. I had enquiries made in the middle of the current 

 season as to whether the oyster trade was paying or not and the 

 conclusion arrived at was that it is being worked at a loss. It 

 seemed undesirable to raise the prices for the last two months of the 

 season, but it appears undoubted that the prices will have to be 

 raised next season. Pulicat is J 5 miles from the nearest railway 

 station. When the Fisheries bungalow which is now under repair 

 by the Public Works Department at Ennore is returned to this 

 department, it may be possible to establish oyster farms in that 

 neighbourhood. 



Experiments to determine the biological conditions conducive to 

 the healthy life of oysters w^ere made in the aquarium, and others to 

 ascertain the period of spatfall, the rate of growth, etc., were in 

 progress at Pulicat. A scheme of cultural experiments including the 

 trial of various artificial foods has been drawn up and these will 

 shortly be undertaken at Ennore. 



Inland Fisheries. 



58. General. — In April 1920 the Government sanctioned the 

 increase of the permanent staff by four assistant inspectors, two 

 overseers and two fieldmen. Hitherto the posts have been temporary 

 and difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the services of 

 suitable men. 



59. Eresh-water pisciculture is being extended district by 

 district. In February 1920 the Government approved of the 

 acquisition and organization of all suitable tanks in the Chingleput 

 and Nellore districts and sanctioned a capital expenditure af 



