192 -MADRAS' FISHERIES. BULLETIN-- VOL. XI, 



- 34. Temperance . mork.oi a practical nature has again been carri-ed on 

 among the Tuticorin divers in the shape of a coffee stall intended to 

 counter the attractions of the toddy shop. Coffee and country cakes are 

 supplied at cost price and again I have to report gratifying success. 

 Similarly at Rameswaram, arrangements were made with two shop-keepers 

 to open coffee stalls in the camp ; sites were given them free and I am glad 

 to say that the divers, whose cgnductand behaviour appreciably improved, 

 welcomed this step. The stalls did a thriving trade as the men's earnings 

 were usually sufficient to permit them to indulge in the luxury of a rup of 

 tea or coffee. It is worth noting that tea appears to be rapidly ousting 

 coffee in these men's estimation. I believe that simple practical methods 

 such as this, conjoined with a scheme for the education of the village boys 

 in the real things that matter in life, hold out great promise in the problem 

 of bettering the condition and outlook of our fishing population. 



35. Recruitment for the Overseas Forces. — I am glad to be able to 

 record that this section has contributed its share to the forces being re- 

 cruited for service abroad. Mr. W. Stopford, Engineer of the " I.ady 

 Nicholson," and Raman, his assistant, have been both joined the motor 

 mechanic service in East Africa ; I trust they may be found useful mem- 

 bers of the force and return safely with such added experience as may 

 qualify them for higher employment than their old posts. This office has 

 also canvassed extensively the fishermen of this coast with a view to obtain 

 recruits for the Labour Force in Mesopotamia and several men have 

 thereby been induced to join. So far as possible the progress of the war 

 and the justice of our cause have been explained to the divers from time 

 to time. Our small staff has also contributed to the War Loan as far as it 

 was able, the result being an investment of Rs. 2,iS6. 



36. I am glad to report that the staff in general worked with marked 

 zeal and ability. I desire to take this opportunity both to bring this to 

 the notice of Government and "to thank the officers themselves for their 

 loyal co-operation in carrying on the work of the marine section of thfs' 

 department ; the hours of duty are often of necessity very protracted during 

 the continuance of the chank fishery, while the conditions of life at out- 

 stations on the Ramnad coast and when camping in the islands off Tuticorin, 

 are disagreeable and trying : little notice can be paid to " official holidays " 

 during the busy season. 



(2) 



Report of vvork done in the Piscicultural branch during 

 the year ending 30th june 1918. 



Owing to the lamented death of Mr. H. C. Wilson on the nth of April 

 1917, Mr. B. Sundara Raj, Assistant to the Piscicultural Expert, took 



