4^ 



15. Towards the end of the year Government 

 sanctioned further experiments in a somewhat enlarged 

 and improved factory which, Hke the present one, will 

 serve as an example and place of research and instruc- 

 tion for those who seek to operate on a slightly larger 

 scale and by more rapid methods, especially for the 

 production of fine oil. 



16. Assuming the total present annual catches of oil 

 sardine on the West Coast to be 100,000 tons, which is 

 probable enough from data in my possession, the 

 obtainable oil at only 10 per cent of the green weight 

 (allowing for food consumption and for months in which 

 oil is small and very small in quantity) would be 

 10,000 tons, value Rs. 16 lakhs, now practically thrown 

 away except that portion which is consumed as food in 

 the fresh fish; add, say, 15,000 tons of guano worth 

 10 lakhs, and it will be seen that a considerable business 

 is developing and one well worth the attention of 

 middlemen who will promote small factories and buy up 

 their produce. A single Ceylon merchant states that 

 he will take 5,000 tons of guano per annum, and the 

 market for oil is unlimited and clamorous for oil, for the 

 paint and colour trade, for jute batching, leather working, 

 soap making, steel tempering, and other industries. 

 The receipt of above 40 letters from the trade in Great 

 Britain and Europe in general, following on a small 

 paragraph in the Board of Trade Journal, shows the 

 readiness of the market for oil. It is to be remembered 

 that the catches can be largely increased if there is an 

 effective demand for the fish. 



17. Fishing boats. — The fishing boat "Sutherland," 

 built for work on the East Coast, was tried at Cannanore 

 during the season, but proved much too slow for the 

 light winds of the West Coast fishing season ; the 

 experience of this season confirms that of last, viz., that 

 the Ratna^iri boats are the best for the West Coast. 

 There were also difficulties as regards crew, over whom 

 supervision could not be maintained in the absence of a 

 reliable master who would skipper the boat ; this is 

 impossible on so small a boat. The boat is too big for 

 small work and not nearly big enough for large work. 

 She was accordingly sent to Tuticorin for other work. 



18. The "Turbinella," motor fishing boat, nearly 

 twice the tonnage of the "Sutherland" and having a 



