i6i 



Pearl and Chank branch (Mr. James Ho7nell, 

 F.L.S.^. — Cbank work over the whole coast between 

 Madras and Cape Comorin, including the great fisheries 

 of the Tinnevelly and Ramnad districts ; chank cutting 

 experiments, and miscellaneous work. 



The above and other matters are dealt with in detail 

 below,* the reports of the Piscicultural Assistant and the 

 Marine Biologist being printed almost in full. The 

 chank fishery report for the season 1916-17 drawn by the 

 Superintendent of Pearl and Chank Fisheries, Mr, James 

 Hornell, is submitted herewith as an enclosure to this 

 report as desired by Government in paragraph 7 of CO. 

 No. 2764, Revenue, dated 5th December 1916. The 

 accounts of the chank fisheries for the season 1916-17 

 have been audited by the Accountant-General and found 

 correct. 



5. Director s branch. — This was run directly by myself 

 with the co-operation of the Assistant Director Mr. V. 

 Govindan, b.a., and the Oil Chemist Mr. A. K. Menon, 

 B.A. It includes the mass of work connoted by the expres- 

 sion "general supervision and control of the Fisheries 

 Department " whether administrative, technical, or finan- 

 cial, and needs no special mention except that each year 

 necessarily and rightly increases the volume, diversity, 

 and complexity of the work. The negotiations for a new 

 Director did not materialize and the present officer has 

 had to carry on. It also includes the industrial sections 

 worked at the Tanur fish-curring and oil and guano yard, 

 the Beypore cannery, and the soapery. 



6. Tannr Experinienial station. — The year was better 

 than in 1915-16 but not altogether favourable; the sar- 

 dines were mostly small and lean as compared with 

 ordinary years; the mackerel were unusually small, and 

 large fish scarce. The experiments in mackerel pickled 

 moist with ordinary salt and pickled with condiments, 

 were developed and a considerable number of barrels and 

 kerosine tins are in stock, partly for observation as to 

 their keeping power, partly for sale especially during the 

 monsoon. They are quite successful as products and are 

 excellent when properly prepared and cooked, but, like 



* Not priated in this Bulletin ; the original reports may be perused ia G. O. 

 No, 285, Revenue, dated 21st January 1918. 



II 



