Chapt. xxvi. The Subji ' Worthy of Government Attention. 397 



definite action in this matter of food supply. Xot ■ f'ui tiling 



will it aeed to advance for the purpose. The produce of the wrw 

 mismanaged fisheries, which is injudiciously merged in the general 

 revenues, is sufficient to build them up into an incalculable blessing 

 to the Empire. 



74. But in conclusion I will once more strengthen myself in 

 the weight to be attached to the opinion of the Sea Fishery 

 Commissioners, requoting from them the following: "When we 

 ■• consider the amount Bf care that lias been bestowed on the improve- 

 ■• nunt of agriculture, the national societies which are established 

 "for promoting it, and the scientific knowledge and engineering 

 " skill which have been enlisted in its aid, it seems strange that the 



fisheries have hitherto attracted BO little of the public atten- 

 " tion. There are few means of enterprise that present better 

 "chances of profit than our sea fisheries, and no object of greater 

 "utility could be named than the development of enterprise, skill 

 " and mechanical ingenuity, which might be elicited by the 

 "periodical exhibitions and publications of an influential Society 

 " specially devoted to the British Fisheries." 



If they could write this of England, and that, too, at a time 

 when the general idea was that there was over-fishing, surely their 

 words apply with ten-fold force in far more backward India. 



75. On writing the above, I am asked, and it is natural that I 

 should be asked, " What definite steps I advocate that the Govern- 

 '• ment should take to utilize the supply of food furnished by 

 •• the sea and rivers ? " 



Such a question cannot be answered off-hand, or if it be. the 

 answer must be subject to so many qualifications as to make it 

 lack the required detiniteness. 



I do not think it is possible for any man, or even for any 

 Commission of Experts to advise the Government ofl-hand without 

 a great amount of previous local enquiry, nor do I think that the 

 advice given can possibly be final. It must be progressive over a 

 course of years. I will indicate below the lines which I conceive 

 such inquiry should follow, and 1 think the conclusion will be that 

 the most advanced scientist in Europe of ichthyology and pisci- 

 culture must be incompetent, without much previous local inquiry, 

 to tend, i off-hand Bound practical advice as to the steps which the 

 Government should take; in fact, I am confident that a prudent 



