176 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XI, 



began in June 19 17 and lasted till June I918. It was then closed l)y 

 the Honorary Director, perhaps prematurely, and Government have 

 now been moved to sanction a revival of operations on a three-year 

 term and on a wider basis. For though the experiment, like most 

 novel experiments, did not fully pay for itself yet (l) a large 

 amount (53,000 lb.) of fish was caught, some under circumstances 

 when catamarans could do nothing in the way of capture of 

 valuable shoal fish for which the agile Malabar canoes and large 

 nets are specially fitted ; (2; it was the cost of bringing over the 

 boats and men, the very high pay, rations, and house-rent neces- 

 sarily given to induce West Coast men to come to Madras and 

 remain away from their families, and a considerable sickness of the 

 crews due to the unaccustomed " water " of Madras, that prevented 

 full financial success. With wages charged at Madras rates, that is 

 such as would be payable to local men hired by local enterprise 

 there would have been substantial profit. Hence and because the 

 experiment created local interest (though at first regarded and 

 treated with hostility) a more thorough testing of the experiment is 

 desirable, local crews being recruited if possible, and other boats, 

 nets, lines, and methods tried. The experiment cost, all told, 

 Rs. 4,406-6-11, and the fish caught realized Rs. 3,044-12-0. 



9. Socio-economic work. — Mr. V. Govindan, as usual, has been 

 busy in stimulating progress, and has visited in his propaganda, 

 most of the important villages on the coast, some of them several 

 times. At the beginning of the year there were, in existence on the 

 West Coast, seven credit societies all based on thrift : during the 

 year three credit and one productive society were registered, while, 

 eight credit societies and one productive society applied for regis- 

 tration. Of the three new credit societies one opened at Raya- 

 puram (Madras), being the first started on the East Coast by direct 

 departmental work. Three are reported by Mr. Hornell to have 

 been opened among fishermen on the Ramnad coast by the Regis- 

 trar for co-operation. Of the productive societies one has been 

 formed by oil and guano producers in the Mangalore taluk, and it 

 is hoped that its formation will lead not only to increased produc- 

 tion and better sales, but to better classes of goods, since, like the 

 Japanese guilds, the society will refuse products not up to standard. 

 The other productive society waiting registration, is that at 

 Thalayi, and is to be a society of curers which Government is 

 aiding [G.O. No. 742, Financial (Separate Revenue), dated 4th 

 September 1917]. 



