No 1 (1922). ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1920-21 13 



PULICAT OYSTER FARM. 



17. The past year's operations have been the most satisfactory 

 on record. The 1920 season lasted unusually late, not closing till 

 24th October ; the present years season opened on 19th March 

 1921, as against 15th March last year. The condition of the oysters 

 has been satisfactory and demand has increased considerably, 

 167,000 being sold as against 133,4^0, the figure for last year. 

 Owing to the increase in railway freight, enhanced prices had to be 

 charged in view of the fact that freight has to be prepaid. Con- 

 sidering the fact that oysters are supplied at the farm at only 

 Es. 1-3-0 per hundred, the higher freight rates now in force have 

 had fortunately no adverse effect upou demand ; as shown above, 

 the farm is now on a financially sound footing. I propose during 

 next season to introduce such changes in the method of distribution 

 as will diminish largely the disabilities at present attendant upon 

 regular aud satisfactory supply due to the comparative inaccessi- 

 bility of Pulicat, whence the oysters have to be brought 16 miles by 

 canal to Ennur Railway Station for despatch to the consignees. 



Experiments made during the past season indicate that healthy 

 layings of oysters may be made in special enclosures close to the bar 

 at Ennur. This line of operations will be pursued extensively 

 next year, but no oysters will be put upon the market from this 

 locality until bacteriological examination has proved them to be 

 free from harmful bacterial infection. 



The following table shows the details of the past year's opera- 

 tions as compared with those of 1919-20, viz. : — 



1919-20 1920-21 



A small plot of land has been acquired at Pulicat, on which 

 permanent store sheds will be built, in order to obviate the present 

 inconvenience of renting buildings not entirely suitable for the pur- 

 pose. With methods of procedure now simplified and adapted to 

 local conditions, and with improved transport arrangements, I look 

 forward to a largely increased output in future years ; no food pro- 

 duct of the sea can compare with clean-grown oysters for 

 palatability and digestibility, combined with tonic and appetite- 

 stimulating qualities ; for this reason they are particularly suitable 

 for invalids and those with jaded appetites. Unfortunately these 

 facts are not sufficiently known and appreciated, hence I propose 

 an active publicity campaign when next season opens ; special 



