No. I (1920) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1918-19 5 



I have proposed to Government to appoint a General Manager to 

 have charge of the Cannery with a view to systematize and develop 

 operations. The appointment is now pending and I trust that, 

 with a competent Manager continuously on the spot, the production 

 may be largely extended in the immediate future. The experi- 

 mental and research side will not be neglected; in this connexion 

 the most promising line of work at the present time seems to be 

 that in respect of the sharp freezing of fish. The fish trade in the 

 leading fish-producing countries is particularly alive to this subject 

 and from the experiments which both the Honorary Superintendent 

 and myself have carried out, there is, I believe, a great sphere of 

 usefulness in front of this particular subject in this country, pro- 

 vided ice can be produced sufficiently cheaply. But while these 

 matters have the material progress of the fishing industry as their 

 object, and may result in substantial direct profit to Government* 

 the socio-economic aspect of our work is likely to prove of far 

 greater eventual value to the community in the uplift it will bring 

 to the fisherfolk of this land. I propose to extend vigorous 

 propaganda in the immediate future to [the East Coast fishing 

 communities, and also to the fresh-water fishermen of our rivers 

 and tanks. Two groups of these latter men, after lengthy discus- 

 sions with the Piscicultural Assistant, have now grasped the value 

 of co-operation in regard to joint action to eliminate the greedy 

 middleman, and are eager to be banded together financially 

 with a view to take over certain extensive fishing rights in the 

 Cauvery at the termination of the present lease. Proposals are 

 being prepared to this end; I trust this may be the beginning of 

 a movement which will enable the department to deal directly 

 with fishermen-groups in the majority of the fisheries now leased 

 to the highest bidder, irrespective of whether he is a speculator or 

 a fisherman. 



The trading account of the Cannery and other industrial 

 branches of work not having yet been received, will follow as soon 

 as they come to hand. 



II. Inshore Fishing at Madras. — The second season's work, 

 sanctioned in G.O, No. 3741, Revenue, dated 23rd November 1918, 

 commenced on 16th December 1918. Two additional canoes were 

 obtained from Malabar with their complement of crews, nets and 

 lines. The Assistant Director, under whose supervision and 

 guidance the experiments were carried on, reports that " in 6% 



