68 



Five ions of the guano were sold to the Agricultural 

 College, Coimbatore, on a very good analysis which gave 

 a valuation of Rs. 90 per ton ; the rest was sold to a local 

 firm. 



6. Not less than 45 village oil and guano factories 

 were al work on the coast using the new method of 

 boiling the fish ; the number indicates part of the advance 

 made since the first factory was started and profits 

 demonstrated by " Fisheries " in 1908 at Cannanore. In 

 a discussion on the ability of Indians to assimilate new 

 industries of demonstrated method and profit, a British 

 merchant instanced the rapid growth of this fish-oil and 

 guano industry as an argument in favour of such ability, 

 remarking that in three years it had become a matter to 

 be reckoned with. The rush for the industry — for which 

 there were many additional applicants during the year — 

 has led to insufficient care in sanitary matters, and on a 

 reference bv the Collector of South Canara I examined 

 a number of small factories of which nine are in one 

 seaside village. Suggestions have been made for the 

 (roper conduct of operations, especially in the matter of 

 leading the efiluent waste water direct to the sea 

 below high-water mark ; this is essential as the water 

 is charged with putrescible and fermentible matter, and 

 becomes very unpleasant if allowed to run into the sand. 

 All factories will now be carefully inspected on several 

 occasions during each coming season, and simple but 

 obvious sanitary needs will be insisted on. 



7. The following table shows the West Coast export 

 by sea offish-guano for the past three years ; that sent 

 by rail or road cannot be ascertained as the accounts do 

 not separate this class of manure from other classes ; 

 hence the destination of a orood deal of gruano is not 

 recorded : — 



The whole of the export was to Ceylon, but it is believed 

 that part was re-shipped to Japan and elsewhere. The 



