No. 1 (1922) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1920-1921 4l 



introduction in Government yards of the hygenic methods of fish- 

 curing originated by Sir Frederick Nicholson, has also recently 

 received much attention from the Government. Political distur- 

 bances in Malabar are however likely to compel the postponement 

 of the wider introduction of this policy at least for some months. 



5. Sea-fishing experiments — (a) With ordinary fishing boats and 

 gear. — The Government note from paragraph 16 of the report that 

 the experiments known as the inshore fishing experiments in 

 Madras have been of value for scientific purposes. Their main 

 object, however, it is understood, was to demonstrate the possibility 

 of using Malabar canoes and nets on the East Coast near Madras, 

 and the possibility of obtaining larger catches by these methods than 

 do local fishermen through the methods they employ. In this 

 object the experiment has so far been completely unsuccessful. 

 Local fishermen have in fact refused to experiment with these canoes 

 and nets except on condition that they shall be permitted to fish 

 within the Madras harbour, a concession not ordinarily allowed to 

 fishermen. It appears moreover that successful fishing within the 

 harbour would demonstrate nothing of value regarding the utility of 

 the canoes and nets under ordinary conditions. 



A similar history has attended the experiment with the Ratna- 

 giri boats known as Machwas on the Malabar coast. This experi- 

 ment was temporarily discontinued during the year under report, 

 and it has since been decided to give it one year's further trial. 

 The results of these experiments must be deemed to be rather 

 unsatisfactory in that they have not yet succeeded in persuading 

 fishermen on any part of the coast to adopt any change in fishing 

 methods : nor has the department itself been able to demonstrate the 

 fact that larger catches can be secured by any methods that they 

 advocate. 



(b) Larger scale experiments. — To the same general branch of 

 experiment, that of improved methods of sea-fishing, but to a 

 separate section of it, belong projected experiments in what may 

 be termed 'capitalistic' conduct of fishing, i.e., experiments in 

 vessels of such a size that they would be beyond the means of any 

 ordinary fisherman, though in some cases quite possibly within the 

 means of the master-fisherman or a group of master- fishermen. 

 The question has long been debated whether the Madras Govern- 

 ment should experiment in this connexion with a steam trawler. 

 It has now definitely been decided not to embark on this experi- 

 ment, the cost of which would now be very great. The Bombay- 

 Government, it is understood, is making such an experiment, the 

 results of which will doubtless shortly be available. 



In paragraph 27 of his report the Director refers to a proposed 

 experiment with a motor-driven launch using a Danish seine. The 

 Government have now decided to accept this recommend ati on and 

 to experiment on these lines. _ 1 



