46 



words the development of the market must synchronize 

 with the development of method. 



22. Nothing much was done this year in ascertain- 

 ing the conditions and tastes of the various markets, 

 except that, as above stated, three jails were supplied 

 with the specific purposes of ascertaining the character 

 of the supply required, and of popularizing, e.g., amongst 

 the warders and others, articles somewhat superior to 

 the ordinary beach of fish-curing yard article. This 

 small branch of the trade has now been actually created, 

 and it is open for others to take it up. Correspondence 

 was opened by a firm in Hongkong in view to purchase 

 for the Chinese market, and a large sample was sent ; 

 the result was not very satisfactory as the station produce 

 had not the stronof hig-h flavour of the articles demanded 

 by Chinese taste as witnessed by specimens received from 

 Hongkong. Parcels were also bought by a Rangoon 

 merchant, but without a proper business organization 

 it is not desirable to enter distant markets especially 

 when the Indian market is at our doors. Rangoon 

 prices, however, are good and are well worth the atten- 

 tion of the reo-ular trade. 



In the matter of oil and guano a good deal has been 

 done not merely in fostering the new methods, but in 

 ascertaining markets. But while the output is so small, 

 it is difficult to get hold of really good markets at good 

 prices ; e.g., a large British firm will not look at a parcel 

 of oil of less than, perhaps, 250 tons (as per letters 

 actually received), and it is difficult for producers of 10, 

 20, or even 50 tons pcj' animm to get into touch with 

 such a demand. The shortsighted and jealous idea of 

 the few present manufacturers is to keep others from 

 entering the business, whereas it is only when a hundred 

 small factories are at work that the business will be 

 worth the attention of the large dealers ; without plenty 

 of produce there will be little or no competition by 

 buyers, and manufacturers will have to take low prices. 

 When the total coast produce is too tons, it is hardly 

 worth the consideration or time of respectable firms ; 

 when it gets to 1,000 tons there will be competition by 

 purchasers, and the manufacturers will get full market 

 prices. It is to be remembered that the world market, 

 and even that of India, is practically unlimited owing to 

 the vast demands of the numerous industries, so that 



