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Cape, etc., to start a neiv industry by importing and 

 working steam trawlers ; there is no reason why an 

 up-to-date nationaUty should not begin at once in the 

 newest fashion. But in Madras we have a vast existino- 

 industry worked for centuries in the most primitive 

 fashion by a large population of ignorant but industrious 

 men, and we cannot ignore them and their interests, 

 welfare, and industrial conditions ; we cannot jump at 

 once from the catamarc.n to the steam trawler any more 

 than we can from the mamoty to the steam plough. Just 

 as a steam plough to be successful would involve the 

 upset of the small peasant and require the introduction 

 of the capitalist landlord or farmer, so the immediate 

 introduction of the modern steam trawler— if, indeed, 

 it were possible — would mean a revolution of the fishery 

 system by bringing on the capitalist and reducing the 

 fisherman to a paid hand. This may come, but, if so, it 

 should be only by a gradual industrial evolution, and 

 Government should not force it on even by suggestion. 

 Even in progressive Japan no such attempt is being 

 made (see my report), and in Ireland the method is 

 purely gradual and evolutionary. 



As mentioned above, I propose rather to engage one 

 or two Bombay boats with their crews complete who will 

 work the waters near Madras, not at present exploited by 

 the catamarans, and who will teach local men the use of 

 sailine boats and new methods. Details will follow ; at 

 present I merely indicate my preference for slow evolu- 

 tionary methods and the particular line based on Irish 

 methods which I hope to take. 



13. But preservation will be the chief object of 

 immediate experimental work, viz., proper preservation on 

 board and for fresh fish as far as the market, and for cured 

 fish throughout the curing process ; untainted, wholesome 

 fish will be the aim rather than a larger supply of the 

 present quantities. Better preservation by the proper 

 methods of handling on boari will, however, increase 

 the catches which are now limited not merely by the 

 smallncss of the boats, but by the inability of ignorance to 

 delay the access of taint ; better conditions of cleanliness, 

 the keeping of the fish alive, the gutting and cleaning of 

 it on board, the use of certain innocuous preservatives, 

 etc., would greatly improve the keeping power of the 

 produce, so that catching will automatically increase with 



