22 



attcndiag to various item-: in the several brauches of the iudastry, 

 viz., catching, preserving and cultivating, it vvas specially charged 

 with improving deep-sea fishing, canning sardines, and, at a branch 

 station, in growing carp both for the market and for distribation to 

 the paddy fields. 



39. As regards deep-sea fishing ; the locality, while abounding in 

 sardines at the proper season, is said to have been largely depleted of 

 other fish, so that it is necessary to go far out to sea for profitable 

 catches, and though the boats even now go many miles, it is at great 

 risk and with many losses of the frail open boats. Hence the build- 

 ing of good boats was a primary object ; one of the staff is an expert 

 in boat building having taken a special course beyond the usual ship 

 building course at the Tokyo Fishery Institute, where, like the others 

 of the staff, he was trained. For some years the station has built a 

 new boat each year, and on the experience of the year at sea, has 

 improved that of the next year; the latest is called a 10-tonner, 

 45 feet long by 10 feet wide and 5 feet deep, fully decked, with 

 cabin aft for the men and net hold ; forehold for gear, provisions, 

 etc. ; live chests amidships for bait ; low bulwarks, wing boards or 

 sponson decks on both sides to assist stability ; keel and centre board 

 (Japanese boats are all keoUess and flat bottomed), lugger rigged: 

 cost with masts and siils about Rs. 1,200, and with all nets and gear 

 about Rs. 3,3()0. The station originally brought trained fishermen 

 from other localities to teach the use of the new boats and nets at sea. 



This boat of which only a model was on view, had gone to Korea 

 to fish with a selected crew of fishermen under training by the export 

 who is not only skilled in building but in handling fishing boats ; two 

 or three other boats had been hired out to fishermen who had also gone 

 to Korea. The best local boats could not venture on such distant 

 voyages over waters often stormy, as they are at best only partly 

 decked and much smaller, costing about Rs. 400, without nets and 

 gear. The station is now contemplating a motor boat with kerosine 

 engine, which would, it is considered, be invaluable in following up 

 fish, in bringing them rapidly to the shore, and in enabling men to 

 make for refuge in case of storms. 



40. As regards fish 'preservimj : the station is in the midst of one 

 of the best sardine grounds, where the annual catch is counted by tens 

 of millions of pounds and is capable of unknown extension ; owing to 

 want of facilities for sale they are largely turned into manure, and the 

 object was not only to catch more but to render them more available 

 as food ; hence a very cotnplete canning plant was established and 

 other new methods, e.g., salting in barrels, have also been successfully 

 tried and the products put on the market. The plant comprises all 

 machines necessary for can making and closing, baths for the preli- 

 minary^ boiling, and cookers for " processing " underpressure at about 



