ei 



Government granted loans at a low rate of interest with the hope of 

 improving the industry, but on the abolition of the then system of 

 administration, these takkavi loans were discontinued to the great 

 embarrassment of the fisher folk. Apparently, however., even in this 

 island the associations are greatly helping their members, for the 

 above mentioned report states that out of Rs. 80'4 lakhs which are 

 borrowed for working funds, no less than 38'8 lakhs are obtained from 

 guilds (associations), 34'3 lakhs from local capitalists and 7*3 from 

 other sources. This seems to be good work on the part of the guilds, 

 but nothing is known as to the terms of the loans. 



FISHERY PLANT, METHODS, ETC. 



132. The original fishing apparatus of Japan and the using of it 

 do not appear to have m.iny lessons for Madras except, as has already 

 been mentioned, the boldness and endurance displayed by the fisher- 

 men in putting far out to sea in small and fragile boats in the bitter- 

 est of weather and in seas liable to sudden and violent storms ; it is 

 their ready adaptation of western methods that provides lessons for 

 India. 



133. Boats. — Boats are invariably undecked, built of pine, with 

 mat or cloth sails but generally of such a rig that they can only sail 

 right before the wind, and are thus not only inefficient sailers but are 

 very apt to be driven out to sea by adverse winds. One peculiarity is 

 the very deep narrow rudder extending fuily a boat's depth below the 

 bottom of the boat ; this is very efficient being immersed in com- 

 paratively still water even when the boat is pitching. In 1904 there 

 were 426,287 boats of which only 22,399 were above 30 feet in length ; 

 26,296 were below 18 feet. A boat above 30 feet is not necessarily or 

 usually of any good size or strength, the average value of such boats 

 being only lis. 227 according to official statistics. Boats are built light 

 since they are, to a great extent, driven by oars, they must be quick in 

 manoeuvring, and must be readily hauled up on the beach. Their life 

 averages between 10 to 12 years as stated both by fishermen and fishery 

 officials ; this is confirmed by the statistics which show 36,642 newly 

 built in 1904 and 35,098 worn out, or a l2-year life for the 4,26,287 

 boats ; figures in other years are similar ; the continual replacement of 

 boats plus repairs must bo a heavy tax upon the fisher folk. 'I'he point 

 to be noticed is that the boats are improving in size and sea- worthiness ; 

 this is necessitated by the increasing distance and length of voyages ; 

 even with the present small undecked boats the men venture out, 

 especially after bonito, up to 100 miles from shore, but voyages to 

 Korea, etc., and the necessity for fishing in the stormy winter weather, 

 are compelling the introduction of boats after Western models. This 

 necessity is clear from the fact that in 10 years ending 1904 an average 

 of 1,279 boats with crews of at least 5,000, were annually lost by 



