No. 1 (1922) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1920-21 23 



The tank lighting improvement consisted of the installation of two 

 shaded lights in front of each tank, in order that the paintings 

 and legends in the frames along the upper margin of the tank front 

 should be visible during the evening illumination. The practical 

 utility of the two latter improvements is shown by the fact that the 

 evening attendance rose from 7,742 (receipts Rs. 1,938-6-0) in 

 the year 1919-20 to 10,429 (receipts Rs. 2,584-13-0) in the past 

 year. 



The construction of a filter well at the margin of the sea to 

 improve the quality of the water in circulation was commenced. 



The sale of the second edition oP the Aquarium guide, priced at 

 2 annas, continued slow, only 637 copies being sold till 16th Decem- 

 ber 1 920. On a representation to Government of the advantages of 

 stimulating the interest of the general public in the life of the 

 common fishes of our seas, Government were pleased to authorize a 

 reduction in price to the more popular one anna ; immediately sales 

 rose and during the next six months over 2,000 copies were sold, 

 the total for- the year being 2,913 copies. A third edition will 

 shortly have to be issued. To cater for the non-English reading 

 public, an edition in the vernacular (Tamil) has been prepared, and 

 was placed on sale on 21st July 1921. 



31. Research. — Mr. S. T. Moses, the Sub-Assistant in charge, 

 took up fresh subjects for investigation during the year — the anatomy 

 of the ocellated Sea-Hare (Notarchus) and the habits of the paddy- 

 cutting crabs. The latter is a subject referred to Fisheries by the 

 Agricultural Department, who seek a means to diminish the damage 

 caused in certain places by this pest. Unfortunately the demands 

 made upon his time by routine duties and by teaching work in con- 

 nexion with the training of probationary fishery inspectors at the 

 Ennur Institute have seriously restricted the time available for such 

 researches. 



32. Museum specimens.— The same Sub-Assistant undertakes 

 the preparation of Museum exhibits of Madras crabs and other large 

 Crustacea. A considerable number of specimens were despatched to 

 various colleges and museums ; the profits on these have hitherto 

 been credited to the Tuticorin Biological Laboratory, but should 

 properly be shown under aquarium receipts, 



INLAND PISCICULTURE. 



.33. This section progressed most satisfactorily during the past 

 year and has given excellent results both on the research and 

 development sides. The four Assistant Inspectors sanctioned by 

 Government in April 1921) were duly appointed and they have 

 undergone an extensive course of training in the theory and practice 



