INDIAN FISH AND FISHING. 7 



an increased demand for fish ; the fisherman's trade became 

 well paid, and a very large amount of animal food found its 

 way into the market which would otherwise have been lost. 

 That this is most probably the correct explanation is shown 

 by examining the condition of the fisheries on the eastern 

 coast of the Madras Presidency at the same period. On 

 this side of the Presidency the right to gather salt-earth 

 was not recognised, but, observed one official, the practice 

 of salting fish must be increasing, considering that the price 

 of the fish, which formerly cost 2s., has been reduced to 

 is. 3d. or is. 6d. But it appears probable that this reduced 

 value of the fish was due, not to the increased prosperity 

 of the fishermen, who were evidently in a miserably poor 

 state, but that the absence of salt wherewith to cure fish had 

 diminished the demand for the article, and fishermen had to 

 be content with a lessened price.* 



In the Madras Presidency the salt-tax in 1859 stood at 

 2s. a maund, but has since been raised as follows : — 1859-60, 

 2s. gd.; 1860-61, 3^.; 1864-65, $s. 4\d. ; 1869-70, 4s.; 

 1875, 6s. ; now 4s. The incidence of this tax resulted in a 

 very small amount of salt-fish being prepared with monopoly 

 or taxed salt for local consumption, and a little for export 



* The Madras Revenue Board (May 14th, 1873) observed that the 

 fishermen numbered throughout the Madras Presidency 394,735 

 persons ; that the answers elicited by the questions put by Dr. Day, 

 &c, have directed the attention of the Board to the subject of the 

 influence of the salt-duties on the trade of fish-curing, and they see 

 reason to think that a great practical hardship exists, which they would 

 advocate immediate endeavours to alleviate. That this is being done 

 will be shown by the following extract of a letter from one of the 

 Members of the Revenue Board at Madras, who observed on 

 November 8th, 1882, "The industry (of salting fish) is really com- 

 mencing at last : 400 tons more were salted this year than last, and 

 80 more yards for curing are to be opened in a month or two." The 

 amount cured in the Madras Presidency was 1734 tons in 1882. 



