< 'iiai't. xxvi. tinuous attention required. 403 



daad will at once Btart into lift-' and vigour without something more 

 than simple Bufferance, without smut' active fostering. At present 

 there i- do one specially interested in watching its practical 

 difficulties and helping it over them. At most we have an orderof 

 Government, and a stray Native DeputyCollei a ully energetic, 

 ami that without knowledge, We have no one continuously 

 interested in it and watching, and steadily assisting it in the way 

 of progressive improvement and extension. I note, as shown in 

 my letter shove* quoted and enclosed in connection with fish- 

 s, that one single officer has in one place and in one season of 

 months brought about the curing of from 77,000 Rs., to 

 96,000 Rs.,say on an average 86,000 Rs. worth of fish. Does not this 

 encourage the hope that like fostering in many places might 

 contribute markedly to swell the amount of cured fish sent into the 

 interior. 



90. At the very outset, also, I think it would be well to have 

 some statistics of how we stand now, so that we may test the 

 growth of our fisheries, the results of our measures. 



91. As to whether any and what nominal or other tax shall be 

 put upon the fishermen whereby to find funds [or the advancement 

 of fisheries, is a question for consideration. 



92. While 1 have insisted bo strongly on the value of local 

 knowledge, it will not lie concluded that I in the least undervalue 

 fish knowledge ; on the contrary, it is only on science that any local 

 enquiry can profitably be based. That proposition is. I hope, self 

 evident. It were easy to enforce it l>y install iiis injur] 

 already done in more places than one in India by misguided but 

 well-intentioned energies, and the extraordinary suicidal proposals 



of friendly but ignorant supporters of pisciculture. It were easy 

 but unkindly, to particularize ; and as no practical good would be 

 gained by detail here, 1 trust the general position maj be granted 

 that any one entrusted with all the duties above indicated should 

 have a previous knowledge of fish generally, and of Indian fish in 

 particular, and a concurrent knowledge of the country and people. 

 This last would be a very great advantage ind 1 as indicated by 



the stress which I lay on local knowledge and tic i I tain- 



ment of it. 



' Omitted hare 



1 in: en i\ i\i.i * 2 D 2 



