47 



prices cannot be in the least affected by the addition of 

 one or two thousand tons per annttm, or even of five 

 thousand ; hence the entry of even a hundred small 

 manufacturers into the business cannot lower prices but 

 must improve them for the local manufacturer by bring- 

 ing in tne purchasing competition of larger markets and 

 buyers. Hence the department has worked to induce 

 (i) an extended manufacture, (2) the entry of reputable 

 firms as promoters of these small factories and as buyers ; 

 also to foster the idea of co-operation rather than of 

 jealousy amongst the manufacturers, so that they may be 

 able to combine their several outputs and place on the 

 market large parcels of uniform and steady quality worth 

 the attention of the big purchasing firms. The Agricul- 

 tural department has also approved highly of the new fish 

 guano and is likely to push its use, by example and 

 precept, among our ryots. It may here be usefully 

 mentioned that specimens were obtained of the fish oil 

 used by 11 jute mills in Calcutta; the oil appears very 

 similar to our ordinary brown oil, but while the latter 

 costs Rs. 6 per Indian maund or about Rs. 8 free of 

 stearine, the prices for the oil in use were Rs. 8-8-0 

 to Rs. 14 per maund ; hence there appears to be a huge 

 market in Calcutta for our oils. The demand of a 

 leather factory for fine oil has been mentioned in para- 

 graph 1 3. 



Pisciculture. 



23. Marine pisciculture. — A notable experiment was 

 begun during the year in oyster-culture based upon 

 Mr: Hornell's encfuiry in 1909 at Arcachon. In the 

 two previous years' reports the extraordinarily rapid 

 development of the oyster in the experimental bed at 

 Ennore was noticed. Hence a small culture farm, on the 

 Arcachon pattern, was laid down at Pulicat which, in 

 1908, was ascertained to have suitable localities. Several 

 thousand limed tiles were laid down in October and 

 November in a duly prepared area and a good spat fall 

 obtained ; the growth was as phenomenal as at Ennore, 

 the largest specimens having attained a size of 2 ^-^ by 

 2'^-^ inches in eight to ten weeks (!) with an approximate 

 mean of i^ by i^ inches. Mr. Hornell considered that 

 the oysters will be fully mature and marketable by June 

 1912 when he estimates that, if nothing unusually 



