169 



most encouraging both to the department and to the 

 fisherfolk who were not only able to interview their 

 Governor but to note his personal interest and that of 

 his Government in the welfare of these poor and seldom 

 visited folk - 



(a) The war unfortunately affected these folk in 

 that though the saradine season was not unfavourable in 

 North Malabar and South Kanara for the manufacture 

 of oil and guano, yet the absence of freight so de- 

 stroyed the demand for their products that they fell to 

 a very low price and have largely remained, especially 

 oil, on the hand. At the low price of the fish guano, it 

 should be taken up entirely for the agricultural needs 

 of the Presidency. 



[d) The number of private oil and guano factories 

 was 253 ; two large European firms entered on the 

 business of manufacture, and this should produce im- 

 provements. The season was bad for this manufacture 

 in South Malabar but o-ood elsewhere. 



(c) An important proposal was made to Govern- 

 m.ent by this department to take over all the Government 

 fish-curing yards (so-called) from the Salt Department 

 and work them more or less after Tanur methods ; the 

 matter is pending disposal since other difficult questions 

 are bound up with it. 



21. Bng'znn'e's. —Apa.vt from the ordinary business 

 demands, a considerable number of serious enquiries 

 were made as to products and processes. Two related 

 to fish glue and the preparation of '' fish maws " for 

 market ; several to the canning and curing of prawns ; 

 others as to oil and guano manufacture and the use of 

 fish guano as manure. A large order has been placed 

 by the Cawnpore Harness and Saddlery factory as the 

 result of our samples of fine oil. During the year a 

 circular was sent to various Agricultural bodies and 

 mercantile firms pointing out the value of fish guano ; 

 one result was an order through the Deputy Director 

 of Agriculture, Trichinopoly, for four tons for a Co-oper- 

 ative Manure Society in Tanjore (Nidamangalam) ; 

 many other agricultural inquiries were also received and 

 the addresses of local firms supplying the manure (and 

 oil) were furnished. It is absurd that it should pay 

 Ceylon and even Japan to import our fish guano when 



