No. 1 (1922) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1920-21 19 



One of the results of my deputation to Scandinavia already 

 mentioned, was a strong recommendation to Government to arrange 

 for exhaustive trials of the Danish seine to be carried out bv the 

 Assistant Director of Fisheries (Marine) in selected localities on the 

 Madras coasts. I was particularly impressed with the great catching 

 power of these nets and their apparent suitability for the conditions 

 on certain parts of this coast. They are operated from large motor 

 cutters, provided with motor winches for reeling in the net ropes 

 and for automatically coiling them away. On my suggestion Lieut. 

 Allan was deputed to investigate the details at Esbjerg in Denmark, 

 where this method of fishing was developed. He has reported 

 most favourably on the nets, but is of opinion that the cutters in 

 use in Denmark are not suitable for use under Iropical conditions. I 

 hope thut the next annual report will chronicle the successful intro- 

 duction of this powerful net to Indian waters. 1 may add that 

 recent fishery advices from England mention the success of Danish 

 cutters using this form of seine in competing with the work of steam 

 trawlers. The, latter are much more expensive to operate in every 

 way and the former have the advantage of landing their catches 

 generally in better condition than the trawlers. As a consequence, 

 these Danish vessels are able to sell their catches at considerably 

 lower prices than the trawlers. Such boats or a modified type suit- 

 able for our somewhat peculiar conditions, seem to me likely to solve 

 the difficulty of how to increase Indian fish supplies. A type of boat 

 suitable for the purpose if built in India should not cost more than 

 Es. 20,000 fully equipped, a figure that compares most favourably 

 with the Rs. 1,50,000 or more involved in the purchase and equip- 

 ment of a modern steam-trawler. 



MARINE BIOLOGIST'S SECTION. 



28. The headquarters remained at Tuticorin as in the preceding 

 year. Work also proceeded upon the same lines. On the research 

 side, the Marine Biologist devoted himself mainly to a continuation 

 of the enquiry into the species of mullets (Mugilidae) found at 

 Tuticorin, to an investigation of the rate of growth among the fishes 

 living in the Silavatturai backwater, to statistical work on the 

 prawns found in the same area, and to the collection of plankton. 

 Upon none of these subjects has a report been furnished, but that 

 upon the mullets is promised for an early date. This should prove 

 of considerable practical value, for at present several species are 

 extremely difficult to differentiate at sight, and as a consequence, 

 there is always some uncertainty in the stocking of fresh water tanks 

 with mullet fry, for certain species readily adapt themselves to a 

 life in fresh water, while others are unable to do so and die off 



