95 



by the acceleration of transit to shore. The matter 

 divides into two main branches — 



{a) the preservation of fish from taint from the 

 moment of catching to the shore ; 



(/;) its further preservation from the shore (i) to 

 contiguous markets as fresh fish, (2) to inland markets 

 either as fresh or cured fish. 



17. Point {a". — Taking first the third method — 

 acceleration of transit to shore. This is a method of 

 modern invention, viz., the collection of fish from boats 

 at sea by a swift carrier boat which then makes its 

 way direct to shore. This method has the great 

 advantage that boats at sea, perhaps in the midst of 

 making large catches, need not waste time and labour 

 in individually running to port with a few boxes 

 of fish ; the carrier can easily take the fish of a score of 

 boats. Further, and this is here the point, much time is 

 saved — 



(t) because the catches can often be taken away 

 by a carrier as soon as ca^ight instead of waiting till the 

 fish i no- boat finds it worth while to q-q home ; 



(2) because the carrier is faster than the fishing 

 boats. 



This latter is specially the case when, as is now 

 possible even in India, the carrier may be driven by 

 steam or motor. The method, however, is only inci- 

 pient in this Presidency ; there are traces, as at Muttu- 

 pet, where large boats go out to collect the catches of 

 catamarans, but this seems rather to be clone after the 

 catches have come to shore ; on the West Coast fish 

 buyers send out to buy mackerel, etc., from the boats ; 

 this seemed to be merely an atternpt to be first in the 

 market. The French sardine canner at Mahe is said to 

 have bought or intended to buy a motor boat to get his 

 sardines speedily from the boats — mostly inshore — , 

 but at Bombay it appears to be the rule for swift sailing 

 carriers to collect the catches of boats often 20 to 30 

 miles out at sea and to brino- them straight to market. 

 This method will greatly improve Madras practice ; 

 boats have often got good catches several hours before 

 they can start back, so that the early catches have 

 frequently passed the rigor stage before reaching shore ; 

 the carrier would save this. Moreover, the carrier can 

 add preservative improvements : 



