2IO 



of the sea borders, were almost useless ; climate forbade 

 deep-sea voyages for loads of fish which would taint 

 before reaching shore and catches which could not 

 attain a market ; ignorance of good curing methods 

 prevented surplus catches from being properly dealt 

 with ; while cheap boats and cheap methods suited the 

 poverty alike of producer and market. It is probable 

 also that with foods such as the millets, of a monotonous 

 and insipid character, the highly flavoured products 

 of the crude curing methods alone known, were posi- 

 tively acceptable or, at least, had grown so, to the 

 poorer classes, just as the ngapi of Burma is a necessary 

 article of diet to supplement the cereal ration, or as 

 tainted fish of the " Madura cure " is demanded by 

 certain sections of the Madras people. 



But with modern conditions have come modern 

 ideas and necessities ; public hygiene demands for the 

 individual and for the community alike and in the 

 common interests of both, that food should be of the 

 best and safest quality obtainable, and should at least be 

 above the suspicion of favouring, if not begetting, dis- 

 ease ; increasing wealth among many sections develops 

 a more fastidious taste in food and a craving for new 

 flavours and foods together with the ability to pay for 

 them ; a population rapidly becoming dense demands 

 more food and more nutrient food ; the fields demand 

 more nourishment if they are to respond to the heavier 

 demands for crops ; the industry and its workers need 

 organization and capital to meet growing necessities. 



The first public recognition of the necessity for devel- 

 opment of the fisheries was in the mission of Dr. Day 

 in 1869 — 71 who reported both on the marine and inland 

 fisheries of the whole of India. For various reasons this 

 report was not followed by organized, practical action — 

 save in one very important matter — either on the part of 

 Government or of the people ; the time was not ripe 

 for devisino- for the distant and vague harvest of the sea 

 what was barely coming into contemplation for the harvest 

 of the soil under foot ; for doing for the scattered, slender 

 line of fisherfolk what was not yet being done for the 

 more exigent and ever-present ryot. The one great 

 exception was the grant of duty-free salt for curing fish 

 within fenced enclosures, a reform initially due to the 

 report and to the subsequent papers of Dr. Day, to whom 



