i;o 



we ourselves grow in abundance rich products such as 

 tea, tobacco, etc., for which fish manure is pre-eminently 

 suitable. It seems, however, that a good deal is going 

 from South Kanara to the Bombay Presidency which 

 is a hopeful sign. Enquiries were also received and 

 answered from various authorities (Salt, Jail, etc.), and 

 private persons as to the cure and preservation and also 

 the supply of fish, both salted and fresh. Two firms 

 from other Presidencies also enquired about the solar 

 oven and requested drawing, etc., these will be fur- 

 nished when the matter is more developed and time 

 permits. Enquiries were also made for leaflets or other 

 literature on fish-curing, etc. ; this indicates a want 

 which I propose to meet by the frequent issue of brief 

 papers as distinct from the more complete papers 

 hitherto drawn up or contemplated ; such papers would 

 deal with the treatment of fish from capture to beach, 

 market or curing yard ; with certain curing methods ; 

 with drying ; with cleanliness and sanitation ; with the 

 proper preparation of oil and guano ; with fish culture 

 on the pond system, and so forth ; apart altogether 

 from socio-economic tractates which are much needed. 



References were also made as to the improvement of 

 oils for export and local use ; the Industrial Commission 

 spent considerable time in its enquiries into the work 

 of the department including also the soap works, and 

 examined myself and the Assistant Director at length. 



An important reference on the possibility of com- 

 mercially manufacturing " Meat extracts " in India was 

 received from the Military authorities and answered, the 

 reply being decidedly in the negative. It may be 

 possible to produce, on a small scale, extracts from 

 oysters and mussels which are not very general articles 

 of food in this country, but not meat extracts. 



Another reference was connected with the extraction 

 of a certain vegetable fat — by chemicals as opposed to 

 mechanical expression — and this also was answered in 

 the neo^ative. 



A great variety of miscellaneous references were 

 received including some of a tenor much as follows : — 



" I desire to start a soap factory (or cannery, or 

 fresh fish trade) and wish to be informed of details of 

 the various processes, the materials used and where 



