137 



partly to the high price or total absence of synthetic 

 perfumes and colours but mainly to a desire to use 

 indigenous products only, experiments have been made 

 in using these latter, and quasi-toilet (cold process) soaps 

 of a very pleasing character have been made with very 

 low charges for perfume. 



It may be mentioned that samples of our soap sent 

 home were reported to be " too good for the price " ; it 

 will be gratifying if both quality and price suit both 

 consumer and manufacturer. 



29. Mr, Menon made several tours and accumulated 

 considerable information not onlv as regards the sources 

 and prices of raw materials of all kinds, including 

 indigenous perfumes, but of the Western soaps most in 

 favour in this Presidency. He also prepared a capital 

 exhibit for the Madras Industrial Exhibition which, how- 

 ever, would have been more useful if it could atoiue have 

 been followed up by commercial operations. He also 

 attended the United Planters' Association where he read 

 a paper on "The Uses of Soap as an Insecticide," and 

 discussed the question with the assembled planters. 



Altogether the work done, considering the delays 

 caused by the war and the necessary difficulties attending 

 the start of a new industry, was satisfactory 



30. Notable features in fisheries industrial work were 

 the display of products, from all branches of the depart- 

 ment, at the Madras Exhibition, and the visit o/a Member 

 of Council (the Hon'ble Sir Alexander Cardew) to the 

 West Coast in October 1915. Both events proved to be 

 of importance and assistance, and Sir Alexander's visit 

 gave very desirable encouragement to those supervising 

 this set of infant industries. 



31. A great British firm consulted this department 

 regarding the opening of oil and guano works on the 

 Departmental system and this, it is believed, is in process 

 of initiation ; also as regards the preparation and use of 

 certain oils in another direction. 



32. Owing to the extraordinarily bad season little 

 work was done during the year by the 244 small private 

 oil and ouano factories which have been established, 

 more or less on this department's system. 



TjT^. Miscellaneous. — The usual amount of correspond- 

 ence was carried on with other departments, with 



