Fish curing is one of the oldest industries of the coastal areas of India.
It has been estimated that about 50 to 70% of the marine fish catches of India
are at present being processed into cured products {Government of India
Publication, 1951 a and b). Though fish curing is of this magnitude, it is
one of the least developed industries of India, although efforts are being
made in some of the maritime States such as Madras, Travancore-Cochin
and Bombay, to improve curing by providing better facilities to the fishermen
engaged in the industry. The methods practised are generally primitive
and the attention paid to cleanliness and sanitation leaves much to be desired.
Only 17-3% of the total fish landing is being cured through the Government
fish curing yards {Government of India Marketing Report, 1951), the rest being
processed in private yards which are not under the supervision of Government
agencies
