2^ 



after lO p.m. It not infrequently happens that shoals 

 appear suddenly and continue within catching distance 

 for many hours ; in such cases, if the rule is strictly 

 observed, it is useless to catch fish much after sun-set 

 since they cannot be cleaned and brought to the yard 

 before lo p.m. ; consequently, the fishermen lose oppor- 

 tunities of large profits. Several cases were mentioned 

 to me in which the rule worked hardship, one very serious 

 instance, in 1904, being a case where it is said that fish 

 worth Rs. 8,000 were brought to the yard after 10 p.m. 

 and being refused were irretrievably lost. Such cases 

 may not be common but are both possible and, from the 

 manner in A'hich shoals of sardines and mackerel appear, 

 probable ; and it is reported that one chief source or cause 

 of " mamuls " (bribes, presents, or illegal gains) is the 

 necessity of getting valuable catches into the yard after 

 regulation hours. It may not be possible, even at the 

 largest yards, to provide duplicate establishments during 

 the shoaling seasons, but several curers expressed their 

 willingness to pay " overtime " on necessary occasions. 

 A rule which would make the hard-and-fast 10 p.m. rule 

 more elastic and legitimize payments for overtime, would 

 ipso facto do away with this source of " mamuls. " 



28. Another complaint was that the curers were not 



allowed to take the fish from the 



fi,f,1„ ■ttL'a'r.J^sairiri: saWng trough to the sea for the 



purpose of cleaning it from the foul 

 brine and matter which cover it ; at Tellicherry the 

 curers employed labour to bring sea water to the yard, 

 but the washing thus effected is not nearly so thorough 

 as v/hen the fish are taken in baskets and swunof- for a 

 few moments in the open sea. In many other yards the 

 processof washing is wholly omitted although, as pointed 

 out by the Tellicherry people, the absence of washing 

 makes a difference of perhaps 10 per cent, in the value 

 of the product. The curers ask for some rule by 

 which they would be permitted to carry the fish to 

 the sea, usually not many yards distant, and wash it 

 there. 



29. A third complaint is in Malabar only, viz., that 

 , , ^ f . the salt is sold to them at the rate 



(3) Dearness ot curing- ^ -^ , ^ ^ , 



yard salt in Malabar ks oi Ke. I per maund and tor not less 

 compared with South th-^n ono anna (2! seers) at a time, 



Canara. i--ii -o i 



w^hereas their neiehbours in South 



