32 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETUST VOL. XIII 



Order— No. 2278, Revenue (Special), dated 23rd December 1920. 



Miscellaneous, Recorded. 



2. Sir Frederick Nicholson, the creator of the Fisheries Depart- 

 ment in this Presidency, severed his official connexion with it during 

 the year under report. The Government are glad to note however 

 that he is still assisting the department with advice and by the 

 writing of bulletins on special subjects connected with fisheries. 

 The Director takes the opportunity in paragraphs 2 to 9 of his report 

 of reviewing in very brief outline the past history of the depart- 

 ment sicce its inception. There is hardly an important branch 

 of work in the Fisheries Department which does not owe its existence 

 to the originality and energy of Sir Frederick Nicholson, and for no 

 less than fifteen years subsequent to his retirement Sir Frederick 

 Nicholson's generosity has placed his services at the disposal of the 

 Madras Government and the Madras public. The Government have 

 already on more than one occasion recognized their debt to him in 

 this matter and take the present opportunity of again thanking him 

 for his services. 



3. General questions. — The question of construction of a steam 

 trawler which could be used for the purpose of pioneering steam 

 trawling, for visits to the Laceadives and for the inspection of light- 

 houses and ports is still under the consideration of the Government. 

 The committee appointed in July 1919 to consider the question esti- 

 mated the cost of a steam trawler at £30,000, but the Consulting 

 Naval Architect attached to the India Office has reported that a 

 vessel of the description recommended by the committee would, 

 according to the present rates, cost not less than £109,000. 



Proposals for the purchase of an engine for ' Lady Nicholson ' 

 and of a new sea-going launch are under correspondence with the 

 India Office. 



4. The quevstion of oil and guano manufacture is dealt with in 

 paragraph 26 of the report. The pioneer work done by the depart- 

 ment has long since developed into a private industry of some 

 magnitude and the year under report shows a great further expan- 

 sion. Unfortunately this expansion has been accompanied by dis- 

 honest adulteration, The question of legislating on the subject is 

 under discussion. Unless and until this proves feasible, the Govern- 

 ment agree with the Director that the remedy must be in the hands 

 of buyers. 



5. The results of the inshore fishing experiments at Madras 

 described in paragraph 32 are not particularly encouraging. The 

 Director has since recommended that they should be continued under 

 private management at some small cost to the Government. 



