58 



14- Sardine oil and giLano. — These products formed 

 the main feature in last year's report ; this year there is 

 httle to record from the Tanur Experimental Station 

 owing mainly to the absence of shoals, but partly to 

 delay in the arrival and setting up of new, and in the 

 transfer of old, plant. A powerful English press capable 

 of taking charges of half a ton has been set up, and also 

 a steam-driven centrifugal ; the latter was used but once 

 and proved very successful in separating fluids from the 

 solid. Steam has also been applied to boiling the mass 

 in the boiling vats, so as to obtain a prime, light- 

 coloured oil, and to reduce the boiling period ; the 

 preliminary experiments promise complete success. A 

 small steam oil-boiling pan for sterilising the oil 

 and driving off any suspended water has also been 

 set up. The whole of the above can be run by a 

 single boiler of 4 N.H.P., but two are available, since 

 the boiler eventually intended for the cannery is on hand. 

 A small oil filter press, and a steam oil refining pan, 

 workino- with an air blast, are also on hand for future 

 experiments, while a large filter press was obtained 

 second hand from the Medical Stores Department, 

 Madras. Next season will be devoted to experiments, 

 with the above plant. 



Mr. Govindan continued his lectures and practical 

 demonstrations — with a small portable plant — on the coast 

 and has frequently had to tour in order to advise 

 persons who had set up or intended to set up the small 

 plant which we advocate. We have also reported on 

 several occasions to the Collectors of the two West 

 Coast districts, on applications made to them for land 

 for factories. 



15. Meanwhile the industry has got on in unusual 

 fashion. In 1909 there were but two little factories, viz., 

 that of the experimental station, Cannanore, and that of 

 Mr. Ooni Choyi also of Cannanore, our first convert to 

 the new method. In the season 1910-11, nine small 

 factories were running and many more were being 

 prepared or projected ; the season 1911-12 opened with 

 no less than forty-five small factories in Malabar and 

 South Kanara, and European firms are taking interest 

 in the business and in the products. Moreover, other 

 factories are probable in Cochin and Travancore. The 

 business has come to stay, and should be highly profit- 

 able to producers and of great economic advantage. 



