H5 



year ending 30th June 1915. The net profit of over Rs. 49,000 

 constitutes a remarkable record, for the nearest figures are those for 

 1881-S2, when Rs. 28,690 was obtained from the Tinnevelly and 

 Tanjore fisheries. The pearl fishery contributed in addition a net 

 sum of Rs. 2,000 as rental for the Tondi beds for the period from 

 ist June 1915 till 31st December 1916, while the following minor 

 sources produced the sums noted against each : — 



RS. 



Experimental fish farm, sale-proceeds ... 414 



Oyster farm, Pulicat, sale-proceeds ... ... 315 



Museum specimens and school collections, 

 sale-proceeds ... ... ... ... 360 



Miscellaneous items of revenue (net) ... 203 



4. Increase in office work. — It goes without saying that these 

 favourable results and the general extension of the scope of work, as 

 shown in detail in the succeeding paragraphs, have been attained 

 only by much sustained effort and hard work ; one phase of this is 

 shown strikingly in the great increase in the volume of correspondence 

 dealt with. The following statistics of the papers registered inwards 

 and outwards show some part of the increase in routine work falling 

 upon the office staft' at Tuticorin. Every one of these papers has to 

 be considered or approved of by myself, so it can be well imagined 

 from this how difficult it is for me to spare time for research work — 

 the special duty, I take it, of my original appointment. 



Official year, i.e., 

 1st April to 

 31st .Varch. 



1913— 14 



1914-15 ••• 



1915-16 



5. Progress of the chank fisheries. — During the past 3'ear the chank 

 fisheries have developed most satisfactorily. Both the Tinnevelly 

 and Ramnad fisheries have more than doubled in production, and 

 this, in view of the bitter competition for labour which exists between 

 Government and the Ceylon chank merchants, is particularly 

 gratifying. It means that the divers of Kilakarai, who are the men 

 concerned, have come to appreciate and respond to the fair and just 

 treatment and good wages received at the hands of this department. 

 Last year these men were full of suspicion and distrust — the result of 

 malicious stories spread with a view to dissuade them from entering 

 (jovernment service. These men know now from their personal 

 experience how utterly false these stories were and as a body have 

 expressed themselves as anxious and willing to work regularly for 

 Government at future fisheries. They have been enabled by th's 

 department to emancipate themselves, so far as Indian waters are 

 concerned, from the system of pledging their services to boat-owners 

 in exchange for cash advances. They now work as free men receiving 



10 



