No. 1 (1921) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1919-20 t 



27. The season for sardines was generally good, but as the fish 

 were very lean, the percentage of oil obtained was low. The price 

 of fish rose owing to the competition between the factories. A 

 basket of sardines which used to be sold for from 4 to 8 annas in 

 previous years fetched as much as Rs. 1-8-0. This is beneficial to 

 the fisherfolk, but necessarily reduced the profits made by the factory 

 owners. 



28. During the year 24,557 gallons of various grades of fish oil 

 were purchased and supplied to the Uoard of Munitions. Most of it 

 was of a superior grade and had to be specially manufactured in a 

 ievi factories where the manufacture could be supervised. The 

 factory owners were however reluctant to bestow the extra care and 

 labour and to adopt the cleanliness required to produce superior 

 grades of oil, even though they were paid high rates ; consequently 

 it was not possible to supply all th9 oil required by the Board of 

 Munitions. 



29. Fish-curing yards. — In the 7 yards on the west coast 

 managed by this department during the year 204,117 maunds of salt 

 fish were cured and 60,06 1 maunds of salt were supplied free of duty. 

 The object of taking over these yards was to introduce certain 

 improved methods which have been tried successfully at the Tanur 

 experimental yard. The construction of better ventilated curing- 

 sheds with cemented floors, drainage, etc., has been undertaken by 

 several ticket holders in the Malpe and Mangalore yards but has 

 been postponed in yards in Malabar on the ground of poverty. 

 Among other improvements may be mentioned the use for curing 

 fish of old brine after it has been filtered. Nearly 3,000 gallons 

 have been used in the Thalayi yard, and other yards are being 

 provided with filtering apparatus ; this method should reduce the 

 quantity of salt issued for fish curing. The practice of drying fish 

 on tatties raised above the ground is also being introduced so as to 

 dry fish more quickly and to prevent the admixture of sand and dirt 

 with the fish which results from^the ordinary practice of drying the 

 fish on mats spread on the sand. 



30. Several applications for opening new yards were received 

 during the year and the opening of seven was sanctioned, but 

 difficulty has been found m securing suitable sites. 



31. The staff of the fish-curing yards was strengthened by the 

 appointment of a reserve yard officer to relieve sub-inspectors when 

 they go on leave and by the appointment of four assistant yard 

 officers for eight months in the year to assist the sub-inspectors 

 during the busy season. 



32. Inshore fishing experiments., Madras. — The object of these 

 experiments is to ascertain whether better results can be obtained 

 with Malabar boats and various appliances than with the local 



