Report No. 5 of 1 922 



THE AIMS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE 

 MADRAS DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES 



BY 



JAMES HORNELL, F.L.S., F.R.A.L, 

 Director of Fisheries, Madras 



Fifteen years having elapsed since the active work of fishery 

 development in its varied branches was commenced in Madras, 

 it is appropriate that an opportunity be now taken to review 

 concisely the work attempted and the successes achieved. 



The aims of the department have grown considerably since 

 its inception by the acceptance by Government in 1907 of the first 

 proposals made by Sir F. A. Nicholson, K.C.I.E., the outcome of two 

 years' inquiries in india, Japan, Europe and the United States. 

 Before summarizing the results of our endeavours, a list of the 

 principal aims which we now conceive should be covered by the 

 activities of the department must be given ; they are — 



(1) To increase the food-supply of the people by developing 

 both the marine and the fresh-water fisheries of the country to 

 their utmost capacity. 



(2) To improve the material and moral conditions of the 

 fisher community by introducing better methods and improved 

 gear, by demonstration to them of the value of thrift, co-operation, 

 education and temperance, and by gradual enlightenment to lead 

 them by degrees to become happier men and better citizens. 



(3) To introduce new fishery industries and to develop old 

 ones. 



(4) To fight mosquito-borne diseases by the breeding and 

 supply of larvicidal fishes into waters in malarial localities. 



(5) To popularize interest in our operations and incidentally 

 in marine and fresh-water biology by means of Public Aquaria, 

 and the publication of popular zoological literature; also to 



