8 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV 



to the form of accounts to be maintained by industrial concerns under 

 the Ministry of Development, paid two visits to the cannery to note 

 the system now in use. They also discussed generally the account- 

 keeping of the department with the Director at a meeting at Ootaca- 

 mund. 



10. Experiments. — Various experiments were carried on as 

 usual, the chief being directed to the canning of soles, mackerel in 

 oil, and mackerel put up d la tamarind fish. In consequence of the 

 unsatisfactory quality of all the curry powders on the market, various 

 trials were made to get one suitable to our special needs and the 

 Manager deserves credit for the excellent result he has now attained. 

 The curried sardines prepared at the cannery and already very 

 greatly appreciated, will certainly be still more in favour in future. 



11. Staff.— "During the year under review Government were 

 pleased to improve considerably the pay of the permanent staff from 

 the Sub- Assistant downwards. The needs of the temporary staff 

 were also dulv considered and substantial increases were given to 

 meet the increased cost of living. A bonus on profits, amounting in 

 the aggregate to Rs. 1,014 was sanctioned by Government upon 

 work doue during the period 1917-19 and duly distributed to the 

 staff, much to their satisfaction. It is hoped that this concession 

 will bear good fruit in earnest and conscientious work during the 

 coming season. 



Tanur Experimental Station. 



12. 1920-21 proved even a worse year than its predecessor 

 for the experimental operations carried on at this station in the 

 curing of fish and the production of fish-oil and guano. Both 

 sardines and the larger kinds of fish were extremely scarce, and 

 had it not been for mackerel, of which fairly heavy catches were 

 made, operations would have been trivial. As it was, 97,724 lb. of 

 fish, chiefly mackerel, were purchased for curipg, the cost being 

 Rs. 3,242 and the sale-proceeds Rs. 5,802. The market for this 

 cured fish has been extended and local fish dealers are at last 

 beginning to purchase our improved cures of fish for sale at the 

 weekly shandys in the interior : this development is gratifying as it 

 is one that has long been sought ; obviously it is of little use to 

 prepare an improved quplitv of cure if the mass of the people will 

 not touch it, preferring the badly cured and often partially putrid 

 quality to which their vitiated taste has accustomed them. The 

 demand for smoked fish and semi-dried prawns has also increased. 

 Experiments in the moist-curing of mackerel were continued but 

 were hampered by the difficulty of obtaining suitable containers at 

 a reasonable price. The preparation of fish meal for poultrv con- 

 tinued and the demand for it is slowly increasing. 



