MALAYAN FISHES. lH 



We know that the sea ofP the coast of Pahaiig, Trenggaiiu 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 tlte East coast. 

 An island with a cold storage depot will become a permanent 

 fishing settlement. Eent 'would be paid by the fishermen for space 

 in cold storage, to l)e collected when the fish is sold. So far State 

 enterprise is advocated. 



It would pay steamers, running from Bangkok, Saigon and 

 Cliina to Singapore, Port 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-ljanks 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 i)revent a group of 

 Malay fishermen from consigning regular .■•hipments of fish direct 

 to a Malay retailer in the market. 



(Shipments would be so fre(|uent 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, 

 Cockles, 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. 



Eock oysters grow well here, but as they take about three 3'ears 

 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. Commercial sponges can be grov\Ti from cut- 



