toi 



the cure of prawns by the process described in last 

 year's report ; these are now well established as an 

 excellent product for which there is a large demand. 

 In round figures 5 lb. of prawns straight from the sea 

 make i lb. of shelled, semi-dried prawns which will keep 

 for many months and when slightly soaked are an excel- 

 lent substitute for fresh prawns. 



Experimental work in pilchard izing fat sardines, as 

 mentioned in last year's report, was necessarily impos- 

 sible, owing to lack of fish. For similar reasons the 

 pickling of mackerel and other fish either in salt only, 

 or in salt, vinegar, etc., could not be dealt with ; the 

 experiments stand over till next season. 



Only one Jail (Coimbatore) continued to take dried 

 fish from the yard, but new terms have now been 

 arranged and other jails will probably take our fish. 



7. Oil and guano. — As stated above, the year was 

 extremely unfortunate and very little was done. A new 

 shed with two large boiling pans on a new model (one 

 worked by steam) were built and arrangements improved 

 for obtaining fine oil and preventing rancidity ; these 

 will be tested more completely next season under the 

 advice and supervision of the oil chemist. Samples of 

 fine oil were sent to England for examination by hard- 

 ening experts, and to others for medicinal use, while the 

 lower grades and stearine were made into soap ; see 

 paragraph 43 below. 



There were 211 private oil and guano factories at 

 work or in existence on the west coast during the year 

 under report. 



8. Canning. — The manufacture was" considerably 

 developed in quantity but the recipes used were practi- 

 cally those adopted last' year as standards and, to judge 

 by the demand, are highly appreciated. Above 30,000 

 cans of all sorts were packed during the year, mainly of 

 sardines (plain, curried, and in oil) 13,020, of mackerel 

 (plain and marinated) 8,676, whole prawns 2,905, 

 prawn paste 4,806, and smoked mackerel paste 930. Of 

 these, together with the balance in hand on ist April 

 1914, 29,108 cans were sold to the public Tor Rs. 7,298, 

 being an average of Rs. 3 per dozen. To judge by 

 repeat orders and other evidence, this experimental 

 work has been highly successful, while from the numerous 



