i63 



9. The chief points worth mentioning are as 

 follows : — 



Cans of larger size than usual were frequently 

 used, viz., cans holding from 24 up to 48 oz. nett of fish, 

 as well as double-sized sardine tins ; this was partly to 

 save tin plate, partly to provide cans more suitable than 

 small ones for hotels, clubs, refreshment rooms, troops, 

 etc., partly to cheapen the price of the contents. Since 

 the contents of a can are doubled, trebled, etc., by merely 

 deepening it (tops and bottoms remaining the same), 

 it is evident that the cost, and therefore the price of the 

 larger cans is relatively less than that of two or three, 

 etc., smaller cans ; it is possible to give 24 oz. nett of 

 fish at a price only about 50 per cent more than that of 

 12 oz., and consumers who require the larger quantities 

 are thus greatly benefited. 



Other fish (seer, pomfret, etc.) were canned in 

 some quantity and have proved successful. 



Many demands for our canned fish were received 

 from all over India, Burma and Ceylon, but these, when 

 outside of this Presidency, have been regretfully declined 

 (except from Military and Red Cross authorities) on the 

 necessary ground that the demands of this Presidency 

 more than absorb the output of our experimental factory. 



10. Refrigerating fish. — The Henderson method of 

 freezing fish was successfully operated till the hot-pot of 

 the engine cracked, and notwithstanding efforts, could 

 not be replaced within the year. It is, however, to be 

 understood that the operations are not and were never 

 intended to be, on a commercial basis or scale ; it is a 

 very small experimental plant intended to ascertain 

 technical y^zf/^, not to make a business profit for which 

 plant and organization on a large scale are necessary ; 

 large plant to deal with masses offish, and large organi- 

 zation first to get the quantities required and secondly 

 to obtain and keep the circle of continuous custom 

 necessary in dealing with such delicate material as 

 fresh fish. 



1 1 . Fishing boats. — Two Ratnagiri boats were ob- 

 tained and, with our canoes, brought in considerable 

 quantities of fish. One of the boats was manned by a 

 Ratnagiri crew, and the other by a partly local crew who 

 were to work it as a business proposition. During some 



