242 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XIII, 



small depth as places the bottom well above subsoil water level 

 and the fish in layers alternating with sand, are dumped into the 

 pit which is then covered over and left for two weeks or so to rot. 

 The pits are in no way lined either with clay or vegetable matter 

 and when opened, the whole mass of fish and sand including the 

 sides and bottom of the pits, is removed for use ; the sickening 

 offensiveness of the result is beyond description as weTl known to 

 railway travellers at the manuring period, which lasts for some 

 weeks since the manure is applied, more Japonico, to the growing 

 plants on four occasions during a period of more than two months. 



There must be great loss of valuable material b}^ soakage not- 

 withstanding the removal to the plants of the surrounding sand, 

 and it would seem better to line the pits with rammed earth or clay, 

 and (or) with vegetable matter. On page 443 of the Imperial 

 Institute Bulletin No. 3, Volume XII, for July-September I9I4, lining 

 with clay is advised, while the layers of fish are separated by 

 layers of wood ashes with a little lime and the whole covered 

 up and weighted; the mass is then left for some months to dis- 

 integrate and combine. 



The ryots have recently found that dried sardines in coarse 

 powder, and also fish guano, are at least as efficacious as their 

 time-honoured fertilizer. 



ADULTERATION. 



146. C^/7. — This is hardly possible since fish oil is the cheapest 

 of all oils. The only foreign matters are the dirty water and 

 impurities too often and too largely remaining in the oil owing 

 to bad preparation. 



147. Fish-gna no.— The main item of adulteration is sand, and 

 this addition has become regrettably common. When properly 

 prepared by respectable persons even in the ordinary simple 

 factory, and dried on barbecues with firm surfaces, very little 

 foreign matter can get into the guano; merely a slight amount, 

 below 2 per cent, owing to the strong winds and handling in 

 sandy areas. But the desire for immediate profit has misled too 

 many of the poorer manufacturers and the middleman ; the isolated 

 manufacturer, compelled^^by his want of capital and by the screw of 

 the middleman to accept the lowest possible price, even below cost 

 price, may seek to recoup himself by this addition, plaintively 

 remarking that if he does not add it the middleman will, as is too 



