NO. 5 (1922) EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 125 



but practical lines. A comprehensive scheme was therefore drawn 

 out in March 1919. Government approved the proposals and up to 

 the present time the department has opened 18 day and 9 night 

 elementary schools. It is intended to open others as opportunity 

 and funds allow. To provide teachers with qualifications especially 

 adapted for these fisher schools, the department has established a 

 Training Institute at Calicut; 36 stipendiary students are now 

 undergoing training. These pupil teachers in addition to the 

 curriculum followed in an ordinary training school receive special- 

 ized instruction in organizing and managing fishermen's co- 

 operative societies, in sanitation, hygiene and first aid, and in 

 the improved methods of fish-curing, manufacture of oil, guano, 

 and meal, and other technical work elaborated at the Tanur 

 Experimental Station. They are also given e. practical insight 

 into the- chief methods of catching fish. The course extends 

 through three years and by the end of that time it is hoped that 

 the majority will be well on the way to become the Admirable 

 Creightons of the fishing villages where they will be posted. 



Education of a different nature is catered for by the existing 

 aquarium at Madras, an institution established by Mr. Edgar 

 Thurston in 1909, and transferred to this department in April 1919. 

 It has been entirely reorganized; electric lighting has been 

 installed and the exhibits enriched and rendered more attractive. 

 An illustrated guide has been issued. The success of the reorgan- 

 ization may best be judged by the attendance, which leapt from 

 96,957 in the year we took charge, to 163,517 in the succeeding year. 

 Similarly the takings increased from Rs. 3,783 to Rs. 9,772. In spite 

 of a large increase of expenditure upon improvements, the profits 

 are now Rs. 4,778 as against Rs. 1, 719. The liberal expenditure on 

 reorganization has therefore fully justified itself. Of the illus- 

 trated guide issued at a nominal price of I anna, 8,066 have been 

 sold since its first publication in October 1919. This too in spite 

 of the guide being published in English. A vernacular edition in 

 Tamil has also been issued and has sold freely. 



But our efforts to popularize the study of the animals of our seas 

 are not limited to this one effort. A Zoological Supply Section 

 was organized over four years ago at Tuticorin (since removed to 

 Ennur) whence specimens of a great range of the inhabitants of 

 our seas and coral reefs are despatched to any teaching institution 

 or museum requiring them. Previous to the initiation of this supply 



