30 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV 



schools and 23 in the night schools. As in the previous year most 

 of the new schools were started and worked by the villagers them 

 selves for several months, and were taken over by the department 

 only after being satisfied of the need for such schools in these loca- 

 lities. Similar applications were received from several other villages 

 for the opening of schools, but on account of financial considerations 

 no action was taken. Most of the sehools are accommodated in 

 temporary sheds or ether unsuitable buildings and much incon- 

 venience is felt for want of proper buildings. All the schools were 

 inspected in the course of the year by officers of the Fisheries Depart- 

 ment as well as by Sub-Assistant Inspectors and Supervisors of the 

 Education Department. 



It). Temperance and other socio-economic work. — Temperance 

 work made further progress, especially in South Kanara where a 

 large number of fishermen in the TJdipi and Mangalore taluks have 

 voluntarily abandoned toddy drinking. In some villages they have 

 gone still further and have adopted objectionable 'coercive methods 

 in their otherwise laudable desire to encourage thrift ; in several 

 instances caste panchayats have even passed resolutions prohibiting 

 members from resorting to tea and coffee shops on the ground that 

 much money is wasted in this way. It is hoped that the officers of 

 the department will exercise their influence against such compulsory 

 sumptuary rules and encourage the men to practise thrifty and tem- 

 perate habits from conviction and not merely because of orders 

 issued by the panchayat. Compulsory thrift and temperance invite 

 a reaction sooner or later, and I consider that such artificial devices 

 to uplift the working classes of the country should be discouraged. 

 Let education, precept and example be the levers employed. 



On the east coast the Assistant Director of Fisheries (Coast) 

 visited several villages on propaganda work, but the results were 

 unsatisfactory owing to the failure of the season and the existence 

 of factions. In future, socio-economic work among the east coast 

 fishermen will be carried on by the Labour Department. 



As a result of representations made by this department from 

 time to time, representatives of the fisher communities have been 

 nominated as members upon most of the maritime taluk boards 

 and municipal councils. A few have been appointed Honorary 

 Magistrates and one has been nominated to a seat in the Madras 

 Legislative Council. 



General. 



47. The conduct of the staff has been generally satisfactory 

 and those at headquarters have my special sympathy owing to the 

 unpleasant conditions under which they have to work. I am glad 



