No. I (1920) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1918-19 37 



factories opened which reached the number of 358, and in the beginnings 

 of co-operation applied to business (see 'paragraph 18 supra) but they 

 retrogressed in that many factories were so badly and insanitarily conducted 

 as to draw to them the adverse attention of the authorities ; moreover some 

 of the smaller factories deliberately added sand to the guano, thus tending 

 to spoil the market. The Fisheries Department accordingly consulted with 

 the authorities and a set of rules for the licensing, proper working, and due 

 inspection of the factories is being drawn up for use during the current 

 season. 



28. On the whole the season was good in South Kanara and poor in 

 Malabar, owing to the extreme smallness and leanness of the fish as mentioned 

 s.v. Tanur supra. 



29. Considerable business was done in buying fish-oil for the Munitions 

 Board and guano for planters, etc., see paragraph 16 supra. Altogether 

 32,897 gallons of fish-oil were so bought for Rs. 15,865, besides which a 

 quantity of very superior oil was made to meet a demand for such oil by 

 the Munitions Factory at Dum Dum and the Harness Factory at Cawnpore. 

 Under the guidance of this department twelve private factories began to 

 make this high class oil for which double the ordinary price is obtainable 

 and which is technically desirable. 



30. Fish-curing Yards. — Under G.O. No. 752, dated 10th September 

 1 91 7, six of the ordinary fish-curing yards under the Salt Department were 

 taken over from 1st June 1919 in view to introduce gradually improved 

 methods of curing, to be followed if successful, by assuming charge of other 

 such yards : the experiment has only just begun. 



31. Applications for opening new yards were received from seven villages 

 distant from existing yards and were recommended for the sanction of the 

 Board ; three have already been sanctioned. Two of these new yards will 

 be worked on co-operative principles as at Thalayi on a share capital of 

 Rs. 1,500 in each case of which the bulk has already been paid : this is a 

 totally new and very encouraging departure. 



32. The result of the fishing with machwas (Ratnagiri pattern boats) 

 was practically a failure, owing largely to a very unfavourable season for 

 the working of such boats. The boat manned solely by a Ratnagiri crew 

 only caught 5,580 lb. valued at Rs. 444, and that manned by a local crew 

 only 4,093 lb. valued at Rs. 286. Fishing days were only 82 and 88 days 

 respectively. The experiment requires recasting : the results are extremely 

 short as compared with those recorded in my Cannanore reports ; see 

 Bulletin X, pages 12 and 32-33. 



