75 



etc. — can always be drawn upon ; the results of successful 

 experiments will be noticed by competent observers and 

 readily disseminated by the press or otherwise ; the city is 

 a centre of industrial and business enterprise and capital 

 which will be able to adopt and push successful fishery 

 and curing methods ; there is a harbour in which any 

 experimental vessels, such as steam trawlers, can shelter ; 

 hardy and expert fishermen are numerous, and the local 

 agencies for placing fish on the market are experienced 

 and probably eager to adopt ascertained improvements, 

 especially in methods of bringing fish fresh and expediting 

 its transit ; the local market for fresh fish is unlimited, 

 while, as the head-quarters of two main railways, experi- 

 ments in the consignment of fresh fish to Bangalore and 

 other distant markets can readily be undertaken ; as a 

 city where custom is less binding than in the districts, 

 the market for new products such as pickled or smoked 

 fish, could be tested and the taste for such goods diffused. 

 I, therefore, suggest Madras, and will shortly examine 

 the neighbourhood in view to finding a good site ; it is 

 possible, however, that a sub-station for canning will 

 have to be started in a locality where sardine are more 

 abundant. 



12. The objects to be kept in view are those men- 

 tioned in my Japanese note, paragraphs i86 to 194. In 

 the matter of catching ; it is a question for discussion 

 whether Government will plunge direct into large enter- 

 prise such as that of fitting out a trawler-drifter for a 

 quantitative exploration of the waters outside of Madras 

 and for the introduction at once of the most modcn 

 methods in view to assist private enterprise to undertake 

 such methods. On the one hand, we know nothing of 

 the possible productivity of those waters, nor is it pro- 

 bable, at present, that private enterprise will risk capital 

 in a commercial venture upon modern lines without some 

 idea of the chances of success. On the other hand, is it 

 not better not to attempt too much or take too large 

 strides at first ? will it not be well to work slowly upwards 

 throuoh the small sailino- boat and indiorenous fishermen 

 by steady evolution rather than to attempt or even sug- 

 gest a revolution in fishery methods by even the experi- 

 mental introduction of the latest western apparatus? 

 It is all very well for progressive, wealthy, highly 

 educated nationalities as in Canda, ' New Zealand, the 



