50 



proportionate weight of salt fish. If such fishing were under the 

 control of a few big men would it be less difficult to frame such rules 

 than in the case of small fishermen ? 



Have any capitalists, European or Native, shown any inclination 

 to take up the fishing and curing industries ; what difficulties have 

 been alleged as preventing or hindering or as having actually hindered 

 or crushed such enterprise ? Do any people deal in fish for manurial 

 purposes ? if so, how are they supplied with the necessary fish, e.g., do 

 the fishermen dry on the sand any surplus fish and send it to the 

 merchants from time to time, or do they take fresh fish to the 

 merchants ; what are the chief fish used for manure ? 



Other Products. — Is fish-oil manufactured in the locality, if so, 

 what oils ? What are the processes of manufacturing it including {a) 

 the extraction of the crude oil, (/;) any purifying pn cesses. If various 

 processes are used (e.g., extraction by boiling, by pressure, by mere 

 exposure in masses to putrefaction), state them. What proportion of 

 {a) crude oil, (/') refined oil is obtained from a given quantity of fish 

 or fish liver, e.g., for one pot of crude shark or sardine oil, how many 

 pots of shark liver or sardines are required and how much refined oil 

 is obtained from one pot of crude oil ? What is the character of the 

 product, is it fit for the export market or is it only used for caulking 

 boats, etc. ? Is any fish-oil used medicinally, if so, what ; if the trade 

 does not now exist, did it formerly exist in the locality; has it in- 

 creased or decreased ; give reasons in either case. Is any decrease or 

 ce3sation of the fish-oil trade due to decrease or cessation of the trade 

 demand or to decrease or cessation of the supply by manufacturers : 

 In either case, give reasons for the same. Is the decrease or cessa- 

 tion apparently permanent or only temporary ? What trade is carried 

 on in fish-maws (air bladder and sounds), shark fins, beche-demer and 

 other miscellaneous produce of the sea, as sponges, window-pane 

 oyster, turtle and other shells, etc. ; what quantity is exported annually 

 and to what places ? Shark fins are divided in the trade into 

 '' black " and " white", the latter being several times more valuable 

 than the former : are these respectively the fins of different fish ? if 

 not, what causes the distinction between white and black ? Is it 

 anything in the method of curing or what ? Can you suggest any 

 improvement in the curing of the " fish maws " so as to improve their 

 selling value? Does sea weed abound in the locality and, if so, is 

 any use made of it, either as manure or for the extraction of iodine or 

 otherwise? Is any sea weed considered as edible and used for food 

 either locally or exported ? Do you recognize among the sea weeds 

 any species useful economically ? 



