177 



Order — No. 285, Revenue, dated 2Ist 

 January 19 18. 



Miscellaneous. Recorded. 



2, Directoi' s branch. — The fishing season was on the 

 whole more favourable than that of the preceding year. 

 The outturn of the Beypore cannery more than doubled 

 that of 1915-16. Several useful experiments were suc- 

 cessfully carried out at the Tanur experimental station, 

 one of the most noteworthy being the preservation of 

 fish by freezing. The progress made in the manufacture 

 of soap reflects credit on Mr. A. Kesava Menon ; the 

 carefully prepared accounts of the soapery show that 

 the factory is established on a sound footing in spite of 

 the difficulties created by the war, in particular the 

 impossibility of obtaining a plant for the separation of 

 glycerine. 



3, Marine fisheries. — Owing to unfavourable weather 

 and difficulties in obtaining divers, the number ofchanks 

 fished fell much below the record of the previous year. 

 The falling-off was particularly noticeable in the Tinne- 

 velly, Ramnad and Sivaganga fisheries. The increase 

 in prices realized, however, yielded a net profit (exclusive 

 of supervision charges and taking into account the 

 receipts up to 30th June 1917) of Rs. 52,700, a higher 

 figure than any yet recorded. The Government have 

 read with interest Mr. Hornell's account of the revived 

 beche-de-mer industry and they hope that he will be 

 able to expand its scope. The monographs compiled 

 by Mr. Hornell in the course of the year are a welcome 

 addition to the information alreadv slathered. The 

 attention of the Sanitary Commissioner is invited to the 

 possibilities of contamination of the oyster beds from 

 which Madras City is supplied. 



4, Inland fisheries. — Good progress was made in the 

 development of inland fisheries. Tank-stocking and 

 conservancy have already resulted in increased rentals 

 which are indirectly an index of the increase in food 

 supply. A comprehensive scheme for the improvement 

 of tank fisheries for the whole Presidency is in course 

 of investigation. The effect of larvicidal species in 

 reducing the incidence of malaria is difficult to gauge ; 



