132 



in Java and of the several shipping companies, was 

 able to bring the fish to Madras with very moderate 

 loss. 



19. Work of the Superintendent of Pearl and Chank 

 Fishei'ies and Marine Biologist, Mr. fames Hornell, 

 F.L.S. — A list of work supervised and done by Mr. 

 Hornell is mentioned in paragraph 4 supra, and all details 

 are mentioned in his report, written for this annual report 

 and for the most part printed as Appendix II. Where so 

 much is of interest it is difficult to select, but attention may 

 be specially directed to Mr, Hornell's success in dealing 

 with the chank diving population especially in the newly 

 leased fisheries of the Ramnad district, and in the initial 

 and successful attempt to relieve the divers from undue 

 thraldom to merchants, money-lenders, and boatowners. 

 Incidentally the success of his measures led to unprece- 

 dented success in winning chanks, so that the net profit 

 — all expenses deducted — from the several chank fish- 

 eries amounted to Rs. 51,000 for the year (ending 30th 

 June), a revenue not hitherto approached. It may here 

 be noted that, given similar and increased success in 

 subsequent years, this department may, in a few years, 

 become wholly self-supporting, considering {a^ the above 

 and increasing net income, and the possibilities from 

 culture pearls and fish-farms, {b) the increased rentals 

 obtained for the rivers and tanks under Mr. Wilson's 

 conservancy operations, and from his fish-farms, (f) the 

 returns from the Government fish-curing yard at Tanur 

 with its sales of cured fish, its oil and guano operations, 

 its vinegar and other miscellaneous sales including the 

 produce of over 500 cocoanut trees planted by this 

 department, {d) the sales of the cannery, and {e) of the 

 soapery which, at least on the side of its fish-oil soaps, 

 is attached to this department. 



20. Work of the Assista7it Director, — This has con- 

 sisted partly in assisting the Honorary Director in run- 

 ning the West Coast stations, partly in supervising all 

 office work including the disposal of routine matters, and 

 the examination of accounts, vouchers, etc., partly in tours 

 of enquiry for general purposes and for the preparation 

 of Bulletin No. 9 which is mainly his work, partly in that 

 socio-economic work (see paragraph 21 infra) in which 



