maijAvan fishes. 



13 



We know that the sea off tlie t'Oast of Paliaug, Tretigi^ttnu and 

 Kelantau swarms with fisih all the year roiinfl, and all that is 

 iii't;t>aftary is a echonH' for supplying tho Western SUtes and the 

 Colony, u'liere fisli is* now very scarce, 



The writer advo<tites State enten^rist' in the estttblitiunent Of 

 cold storage defiots on llie idauds, where there is always safe 

 anchoragt* nnd shelter in smooth water. 



There is a ehaiii of tJiebe islands all the way up tlie East coast. 

 An island with a t-old stora*fe depot will become a permanent 

 fishing settlement. Rent would be paid by the fi&herraen for epace 

 in cold stomgL', Ui be ^oilated when the fish is sold. So far State 

 enterpriie is advocated. 



It would pay steamers, running from Banf?kok, Saigon and 

 China to Sirigiipore, Port Swettenham and Fenang, to eall at these 

 ishiuds for firfh, and those steamers not now fitted ^'ith refri^iera- 

 tin^ plant wotdd instal it- 

 Schemes for ameliorating the lot of tlie fisltermen by gran ting- 

 loans, ete,, have not suceeeded Ijecause no seheme protected the 

 fishermen from the middlpniim, but the depot.-^ which will be the 

 Peniiy-banks of the iiehermen, always ready to receive dejioeits, hoAP- 

 ever amall, until recfuired. Vili render the fishermen independent 

 of the Tniddleraen. 



For example, there would be nothing to prevent a group of 

 Malay fishermen from coasignin^ regular shipments of fish direct 

 to ft Malay retailer in the market. 



Shipments wonld be m frequent that loansf should be nnneees- 

 sary, Imt allowing that loaur^ were asked for, to start Malays workin)( 

 on a co-operative basis, as indicated above, there would he no risk in 

 advancing money on tlie seeurity oi the stock of fish. 



With State organised depots and State transport tliere would 

 he a fair ti&kl for steam trawlers and steam drifters owned by 

 Companies or individuals. The depota would receive the fish and 

 save the travvlera a jjouniey to port with every catdi, and hei* a^ain 

 the middleman would be eliminated. 



This work deal*:, very inadequately, with fishes only. Much 

 cotild be written and wilL no doubt, i>e ivritteu later about our 

 Crabs, PraivTis, Crayfish, Pearl oysters, Edihle oy^it-ers, Scallops, 

 Cockles, Cortds and S^pongea, l>nt considerations of i^pace 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 oyaters grow well here, but as they take ahmit three years 

 to mature, and no native eaa resist taking them while still small, 

 they are practically unknown in the marketfi. 



Leasei^ could be granted and oysters cultivated. Sponges too, 

 can be culfcivated. Commercial sponges can be grown from cut- 



