250 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XIII, 



Moreover, co-operation will greatly tend to diminish adulteration 

 since, firstly, the society can itself impose and enforce a standard 

 of purity, secondly, it will sell direct in large parcels under a 

 guarantee to big merchants who are above adulteration or direct 

 to large consumers, such as planters, or to the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment for subsequent distribution to ryots. The following extract 

 from the Fisheries Report for 1918-IQ is relevant : — 



" Part of the year was spent in inculcating the ad\isability of co- 

 operation in the sale of fish oil and guano. There have been and will 

 increasingly be demands for large parcels of oil by arsenals, jute mills, etc., 

 and if the isolated producers- -isolated in fact though there may be a dozen 

 in a village — combine as members of a Co-operative Society, it follows 

 that, commanding large parcels, the society can sell to advantage direct to 

 large consumers and thus evade the middlemen, or if they sell through or to 

 a middleman, can fix and obtain equitable prices. Moreover since arsenals 

 and factories, etc., often require high class oil, it will pay the members of a 

 society to manufacture such oil and obtain the consequent better prices. 

 On the other hand the consumer obtains large parcels of even quality in 

 one transaction, and, avoiding the middleman, can give or" obtain better 

 terms. With guano it is the same ; if societies bulk their products and 

 have them tested, planters, associations, etc., can deal direct for large 

 parcels and can demand a guarantee of (juality ; this will make for better 

 goods and check adulteration." 



In 1918 -19 there was one Co-operative Society for the joint sale 

 of fish oil and guano, and in the report for 19x9-20 it is mentioned 

 that this society had 36 factories as members which, during the 

 year, made 200 tons of oil, worth Rs. 1,09,100, and 850 tons guano 

 worth about Rs. 85,000, amounts worth attention by buyers. More- 

 over the Society, as such, was able to borrow considerable amounts 

 for its members. Unfortunately there was insufficient co-operative 

 action in sale owing to inexperience, and want of organization in 

 collecting the products from the various villages; hence sales 

 became individual so that the main purpose of the Society was 

 frustrated. These young societies require the fostering care of 

 Registration and Fisheries officers, especially of the latter who are 

 experts in the actual business — having indeed initiated and 

 fostered it for a dozen years — and know all the details and diffi- 

 culties not only of manufacture and of sale, but are thoroughly 

 acquainted with the pressure upon individual producers by middle- 

 men and creditors, and with the difficulties of joint action among 



