i^5 



large firms and hot benefiting the small folk, whereas 

 my object is to introduce plant and methods suitable to 

 a hundred small folk and firms alono- the whole course 

 of the coast, so that the fresh catches may be dealt with 

 on the spot as and where they arrive. 



Letter — from Sir F. A. Nicholson, k.c.i.e., I.C.S., Hono- 

 rary Director, Madras Fisheries. 

 Z>a/^r/— Madras, the iSth October igoq. 



Regarding the establishment of an Experimental 

 Station at Cannanore. 



* * * * 



4, In accordance with the statements in paragraph 

 15, etc., of my letter read in G.O. No. 2267, Revenue, 

 dated 17th August 1908, and in other places, I 

 purchased, when in England, from the London firm 

 therein mentioned, a can-making plant somewhat better 

 than that noted in the paragraph, but nevertheless 

 costing net, i.e., deducting the trade discount which I 

 obtained, only ^83, f.o.b. London, to which must be 

 added freioht to India, so that the oross cost will be 

 about £100 or Rs. 1,500 as expected. The plant is 

 quite sufficient for small operations and can be enlarged 

 at any time, and as it is from the same firm which 

 supplied a Coimbatore Company for tinning coffee I 

 hope to get my men trained there. The Company has 

 very courteously acceded to my request to train men, and 

 suggests that if this is insufficient they will be pleased 

 to send me their expert Manager for a week or so in 

 order to give more complete instruction ; a fee and 

 expenses will of course have to be paid to such Manager. 

 I anticipate no difficulty in getting my men thoroughly 

 taught. 



5. I have also obtained rudimentary plant for canning 

 operations, viz., steam retort and steam vat from an 

 absolutely first-class firm ; the boiler to supply steam I 

 expect to get through the Madras Public Works Stores 

 or, failing them, in Bombay. I obtained a trade dis- 

 count of 20 per cent, on the goods ordered, the retort 

 costing ^48 instead of ^60 and the vat ^10 instead of 

 ^12. I have also ordered a small steam autoclave or 



