28 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL. XV 



research work of high economic importance being done by men 

 Whose training has been received wholly in India. I refer especially 

 to the investigations of Messrs. Sundara Raj, N. P. Panikkar, S. T. 

 Moses and M. Pamaswami JN'ayudu. 



SOCIO-ECONOMIC SECTION". 



43. Co-operation. — (a) At the beginning of the year there were 

 47 fishermen's co-operative societies, including two productive socie- 

 ties, with a membership of 2,827. Of these forty-one were on the 

 west coast and six on the east coast. Their number rose to sixty- 

 nine at the end of the year and the membership to 3,544 (fifty-six 

 being on the west coast, and thirteen on the east coast). The 

 paid-up share capital of these societies also rose from Hs. 4 9,232 to 

 Ps, 60,585 and the loans disbursed from Ps. J ,17,520 to Rs. 1.69,103. 

 The two productive societies, viz., the Melady and Madapalli fish- 

 curers' co-operative societies referred to in last year's report, were 

 registered during the year but have not started work as the fish- 

 curing yards in these two villages have not yet been opened. Pour 

 other societies which have been registered also remain to be started. 

 The following table contains the more important figures relating to 

 the working of these societies : — 



1918-19. 



1919-20. 



1920-21. 



Number of members 



T males 

 1 females 



Total 



Number of shares 

 Paid-up share capital 

 Loans disbursed 



, , for payment of prior debts 



,, for industrial use 

 Loans due to the Central Banks and other depositors. 



3,099 

 445 



3,544 



4,875 



rs. 66,585 



1,69,103 



26,318 



61,788 

 18,253 



(b) The total borrowings of societies during the year 1920-21 

 amounted to only Ps. 7,4J0. At the end of the year the balance of 

 loans due to Banks and others was Ps. 18,253. Of these Ps. 10,050 

 is the amount due by the Mangalore Guano Factory owners' 

 co-operative society. This society did little or no business during 

 the year and a commission of Ps. 99-4-4 collected was the only 

 income it derived. The decrease of business is due to the failure of 

 sardines during the year and also to want of experience and interest 

 on the part of the office-bearers to carry on the business in a properly 

 organized manner. The Co-operative and Fisheries Departments 

 have jointly formulated a scheme for the better working of this 

 society but it has not yet been accepted by it. 



