n 



the development of proper preservation on the boats. 

 After that the supply of wholesome food depends entire- 

 ly on methods of preservation, and the unanimous 

 opinion of all experts at home with whom I discussed 

 tropical difficulties, was that preservation — preservative 

 methods — are the crux of the problem. I have accord- 

 ingly studied this question with some minuteness and 

 have decided upon a variety of definite experiments for 

 the station both in ordinary and in special preservative 

 methods ; ordinary, embracing the more varied use of salt 

 as in pickling, the use of smoke, vinegar, etc., better 

 methods of drying, etc., together with a small refrigerat- 

 ing plant chiefly for lowering the working temperature 

 in certain cases ; special, in the application of certain 

 simple and innocuous preservatives and methods which, 

 though not novel to science or always to fish curing, are 

 novel in general application because in western countries 

 they are unnecessary by reason of climate, of the universal- 

 ity of cheap ice and refrigeration, of the general use of 

 canning, and of the larger use of cheap salt, smoke, etc. ; 

 in India they are, of course, entirely novel by reason of the 

 general ignorance of any preservatives other than salt 

 and solar heat, and, in a few places, of vinegar or other 

 weak acid such as tamarind juice and peppers. 



14. The appoijitmcnt of a Director and Superintend- 

 ent. — After observing the work, methods, and staff of 

 the Congested Districts Board, Ireland, and comparing 

 those of Japan, I feel the necessity for a proper directing 

 and supervising as well as technical staft. 



15. Omitting at present the technical men, we need, 

 in the first place, a Commissioner or Director who 

 should be an officer of wide administrative experience, 

 accustomed to Indian needs, habits, social conditions, 

 prejudices, conflicting interests, etc., but possessing also 

 a good knowledge of fishery work and results throughout 

 the world ; this officer would be the arbiter agendi, to 

 control and sanction the general policy and lines of 

 action in all the branches of fishery work, marine and 

 inland, to co-ordinate, regulate, criticize work, to pro- 

 mulgate successes, to negotiate with other departments, 

 railways, business firms, etc. : he should not, however, 

 interfere with details. The Commissioner for Agri- 

 culture in the Board would probably be the most 

 suitable authority, if possessing fishery knowledge. 



