248 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. Xlll, 



edible portions of edible fish it is most desirable that these he converted 

 into manure by the process of passing through the human body and not 

 otherwise. I think that the friends of Indian Agriculture, while rightly 

 aiming at securing large supplies of fish manure for the ryot, should 

 endeavour to reach this result by way of increased catches of fish. I, 

 therefore, would propose, in preference to prohibition of export, that a 

 reasonably heavy duty should be levied on exported fish manure, and on 

 all fish which are not exported in such a way as to be fit for food on their 

 arrival at the intended destination ; and that the proceeds of this export 

 tax should be earmarked for the development of fisheries." 



T54. It is a grave question however whether Indian fisheries, 

 especially in the most southern parts or along the East Coast, are 

 really capable of " enormous extension " ; of considerable exten- 

 sion doubtless, but that only by slow degrees as intelligent capital 

 goes into the business and develops catching and curing methods 

 and material. Moreover, though it is most desirable, as the 

 present writer has ceased not to argue and urge, that all edibles — 

 not fish only — "should be converted into manure by passing 

 through the human body," and used, more Japoiiico, as manure 

 (see Fisheries Bulletin on Agriculture in Japan), yet the unhappy 

 fact remains that the Indian agriculturist in general will not use 

 human excreta as manure, so that edible fish while serving as food 

 will not subsequently serve the secondary purpose of a fertilizer. 

 Further, it is not at this moment a question of catching more fish 

 (sardine) for edible purposes but of utilizing existing catches ; as 

 conditions are, the fish used as fertilizer are the excess beyond that 

 which can be cured and used as food ; they cannot be used fresh 

 beyond a certain quantity because they go bad before they can be 

 transported to any distance, and their utter irregularity, both in 

 locality and time, prevent organized refrigerating methods ; hence 

 they have to be cured as salt fish, and this is, in general, carried 

 out to the utmost present capacity of the fisher-folk. Hence an 

 extension of catches is not so important as an extension — and 

 variety — of curing possibilities. See on this point, paragraph 89 

 supra and preceding paragraphs. 



Meanwhile the agricultural industry needs all possible manures 

 and ought not to have to wait till the fisheries are further 

 developed or till excreta are accepted as fertilizer. 



155. Mr. V. Govindan (letter of 4th July 1921) objects to 

 prohibition on the ground that the ryots " do not yet understand 



