^4 



for each month in the year and for several zones of the 

 sea, and that there are few surprises outside the well 

 known periods and localities of cyclonic storms. 



11. Of the above objections the first two may be 



lightly passed over : custom will 



Reasons discussed. • -^ i i j i • 



give way, as it has already done in 

 the case of new-fashioned nets, before advantage and 

 profit ; and we have, in fact, the Ratnagiri boats coming- 

 in larger numbers further south each year (so enquiry 

 seemed to show) which are excellent object lessons both 

 as to size and habit of staying at sea : moreo\er the 

 coastal trade is carried on in a variety of craft of all 

 sizes the crews of w^hich are well accustomed to the 

 deep sea and long voyages. 



12. The third reason is good in so far as we hold to 



the idea of the independent 

 Provision of capital for fisherman each with his own boat, 



larger ooacs. • r i • i • i • 



but, in tact, the industry is tendmg 

 to develop, as in western countries, towards the 

 disappearance of the independent boatman and the entry 

 of the capitalist-employer : at Tellicherry, one of the 

 best fishing and dried-fish centres, two curers control 

 two-thirds of the numerous boats : on the East Coast 

 there are Marakayars and others who have the men and 

 the industry in their hands. However, it is open to 

 Government, as in Ireland and elsewhere, to advance 

 funds or even, as in Japan, to give grants-in-aid either to 

 individuals or to small syndicates of fishermen for the 

 purchase of larger boats, the security being the boats 

 themselves which can be easily and cheaply insured 

 either bv Government itself throuQ-h a verv small 

 increase in the annuity of repayment, or externally. As 

 a matter of fact the Ratnagiri men appear to have found 

 means to purchase their boats. This matter will be 

 fully discussed in the final report. 



13. The fourth objection is interesting and weighty ; 



it would be absurd to build boats 



Methods of obviatinsT the ^ , .1 • c >.• ^ *.„U^ 



fourth difficulty, viz, pt.tre- to keep the sea if tne catches are 

 faction of catches, by deep- simply to putrcfy. Now there are 



sea^^boats. ice. and live ^^^^ ^^^^^ mCthods of preserving 



catches from taint— ice or refrigera- 

 tion (cold storage), live wells or receptacles, daily 

 carriers to and from the fishing fleet, and salt. For the 

 present, refrigeration in the fishing boats may be put 



