195 



they may be readily assembled by one cooper. I have 

 also need of a set of coopering tools for use in the 

 curing yard ; my carpenter is a fair cooper. After we 

 have obtained a supply of proper barrels made of the 

 proper wood I will try and have similar barrels made 

 locally. I request sanction for expending a special sum 

 not exceeding ^50 (Rs, 750) on this account. 



13. F^^esh fish supply. — Hitherto I have not 

 developed this important and attractive branch but have 

 confined myself to cured fish, since the supply of fresh 

 fish demands considerable organization (especially for 

 sale) and somewhat expensive plant. But it is, of all 

 branches, that which most appeals to the public and 

 about which there is no question of varying taste or 

 doubtful acceptability ; no one will look at cured fish if 

 fresh fish can be obtained ; this is strikingly shown not 

 by mere verbal demands but by the facts — 



(i) that it is usual to try and sell all fish fresh 

 before it is taken to the curing yards where it conse- 

 ((uently arrives, often, in a state of incipient taint, 



{2) an inland trade is carried on by runners chiefiy 

 but occasionally by train and jutka, to the utmost 

 possible limit — possible $hat is to utterly crude and 

 careless methods — and in villages a very few miles from 

 the coast, fish is habitually consumed as ''fresh," i.e., 

 not cured fish, though its condition is very far indeed 

 from freshness, and I cannot but think that many of the 

 cases of the bowel and other complaints are due to the 

 eating of decomposing fish which is notoriously toxic 

 especially in the earlier stages of decomposition. 



Moreover there has existed for many years a so- 

 called fresh fish trade in which fish in ice are sent by 

 the night mails to certain markets, such as Ootacamund, 

 Coonoor and Bangalore, in which this fish is sold at 

 high prices, but not always in the best condition. 

 Having watched the present unsatisfactory methods 

 from the beach at Pulicat and Ennore to the tables in 

 Ootacamund where so-called "fresh" fish is served up, 

 and having failed to induce West Coast merchants to 

 take up the matter seriously though there is a small ice 

 factory at Calicut, I think it time to enter the market 

 with new methods based on scientific practice, and I 

 believe that I can put fresh, firm fish from Malabar on 

 the market in Ootacamund, Bangalore and Madras at 

 13-A 



