MALAYAN FISHES. 13 
We know that the sea off the coast of Pahang, Trengganu and 
Kelantan swarms with fish all the year round, and all that is 
necessary is a scheme for supplying the Western States and the 
Colony, where fish is now very scarce, 
The writer advocates State enterprise in the establishment of 
cold storage depots on the islands, where there is always safe 
anchorage and shelter in smooth water. 
There is a chain of these islands all the way up the East coast. 
An island with a cold storage depot will become a permanent 
fishing settlement. Rent would be paid by the fishermen for space 
in cold storage, to be collected when the fish is sold. So far State 
enterprise is advocated. 
It would pay steamers, running from Bangkok, Saigon and 
China to Singapore, Pert Swettenham and Penang, to call “at these 
islands for fish, and those steamers not now fitted with refrigera- 
ting plant would instal it. 
Schemes for ameliorating the lot of the fishermen by granting 
loans, etc., have not succeeded because no scheme protected the 
fishermen from the middlemen, but the depots which will be the 
Penny-banks of the fishermen, always ready to receive deposits, how- 
ever small, until required, will render the fishermen independent 
of the middlemen. 
For example, there would be nothing to prevent a group of 
Malay fishermen from consigning regular shipments of fish direct 
to a Malay retailer in the market. 
Shipments would be so frequent that loans should be unneces- 
sary, but allowing that loans were asked for, to start Malays working 
on a co-operative basis, as indicated above, there would be no risk in 
advancing money on the security of the stock of fish. 
With State organised depots and State transport there would 
be a fair field for steam trawlers and steam drifters owned by 
Companies or individuals. The depots would receive the fish and 
save the trawlers a journey to port with every catch, and here again 
the middleman would be eliminated. 
This work deals, very inadequately, with fishes only. Much 
could be written and will, no doubt, be written later about our 
Crabs, Prawns, Crayfish, Pearl oysters, Edible oysters, Scallops, 
CSockles, Corals and Sponges, but considerations of space prevent 
more than the briefest mention. 
The writer has seen Pearl shell taken close to Singapore and 
has handled a pearl valued at £800 taken off the Kelantan coast. 
Rock oysters grow well here, but as they take about three years 
to mature, and no native can resist taking them while still small, 
they are practically unknown in the markets. 
Leases could be granted and oysters cultivated. Sponges too, 
can be cultivated. Comimercial sponges can be grown from cut- 
