32 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XII, 



of this favourite article. Prawns also were singularly absent, so that only 

 2,030 cans of whole prawns were packed and were entirely disposed of. 



5. Notwithstanding difficulties, we packed 80,267 cans of all sorts 

 during the year plus the opening balance, and sold 62,095 ; the closing 

 balance on 30th June 1919 was 37,683 valued (cost price) at Rs. 9,683. 



6. The expenditure during the year, was Rs. 34,285 including Rs. 5,644 

 on capital account and Rs. 28,641 running charges. The capital charges 

 include Rs. 3,852 for building decent quarters for the staff; Chaliyam 

 being only a small village, largely fishing, the staff had nowhere to live, and 

 were not only gravely uncomfortable but were exposed to serious risks of 

 disease. On part of the land obtained from the Forest Department (G.O. 

 No. 1 1 8, Revenue, dated 8th January 1918) comfortable lines close to the 

 cannery and away from the village have now been built. 



7. The running charges were not only swollen, as stated above, by war- 

 time prices, but include the cost of 15 tons of the high priced tin plate 

 from England, much of which (135 boxes value Rs. 7,918, equal to about 

 one year's consumption) remains in stock and is therefore available, 

 without further expenditure, for 1919-20; also solder worth Rs. 1,485 and 

 labels sufficient for about a year, are in hand. 



8. The cash returns paid to the treasury were Rs. 27,641, or Rs. 6,644 

 short of drawings. This shortage is explained by the capital expenditure 

 and by the heavy cost of the large parcels of English tin plate, solder, etc., 

 mentioned above and largely still on hand ; there are also additional assets 

 of Rs. 1,853 as good debts for goods sold, and Rs. 12,773 being value of 

 other goods and stores on hand, mostly the balance canned goods (Rs. 9,683 

 valued at cost price) from the year's work. 



9. The gross profit on the year's work was Rs. 8,464-14-1 as per trad- 

 ing account. Deducting Rs. 4,110-0-6 on account of overhead charges 

 (proportion of the Honorary Superintendent's travelling allowance, pay of 

 all permanent staff — sub-assistant, mechanic, maistris, and office) and 

 depreciation, etc, on buildings and plant, the net profits are Rs. 4,354-13-7. 

 These figures are subject to super-audit. The profits are smaller in amount 

 than in 191 7-1 8 partly owing to the enhanced cost of material, partly to 

 the year being the usual twelve months year instead of fifteen months as in 

 1917-18. 



10. Little work could be done in experiments other than those of can- 

 ning operations, owing to war conditions and the consequent impossibility 

 of obtaining plant, metals, etc. An experiment in canning sardines rather 

 more salted than usual in large tins in oil, so that a shopman could open 

 such tin (kerosene or smaller) and sell canned sardines by the pound, etc., 



