28 The same policy of creating small holdings is being followed in selling off scattered plots of State property throughout the provinces. The administration of these thousands of isolated plots has always been difficult and unremunerative, and was generally left in the hands of the village authorities, who paid a small head rent and made what they could hj sub-letting.

Though for many years past it has been recognised that their disposal would be advantageous, the almost entire lack of information as to the situation, limits, areas, &c., of these properties rendered it impossible to undertake any general measure of ■disposal until a detailed record or catalogue had been drawn up. This work, begun as far back as 1905, was completed province by province and occupied several years. It would indeed have been possible to dispose of these properties immediately on the completion of the catalogue of each province, but information gained during the progress of the work pointed to the existence of a considerable class of small tenants, who were in the habit of leasing these lands from the village authorities and working them. It was felt that in this direction something might be done in the way of establishing small holdings and converting these sml tenant holders into proprietors. With this object in view no effort was spared to eliminate the middleman and deal direct with the small holder, giving him greater security of tenure and a lower rate of rental than had previously been exacted by the middleman. Relations having been ■established with individual tenants and maintained over a series of years, it became an easy matter to offer the tenant the opportunity of buying his leasehold outright •on easy terms. In this way all plots of less than 100 feddans in area are being disposed of. In 1919 the work was undertaken in four provinces, Assiout, Beni-Souef, Menufia and Kaliubia, tenants being given preference and unoccupied plots being sold by auction. In all 13,681 feddans were disposed of in 10,4:14 plots, of which 6,552 feddans in 6,531 plots were bought by tenants, and 7,129 feddans of unoccupied land were sold by auction in 3,883 plots. Details of the sales are given in the following table:— Sold by Auction. Plots of 5 feddans and less ... ... ... 3,640. Plots exceeding 5 feddans and not exceeding 20 ... 168 Plots over 20 feddans ... ... ... ... 75 Total Sold to Tenants. Plots of 5 feddans and less Plots exceeding 5 feddans and not exceeding 20 Plots over 20 feddans 3,883 6,304 195 32 Total 6,531 The percentage of plots not disposed of was low. In spite of the facilities of deferred payment offered to the purchasers no less than 76 per cent, of the price of land sold to tenants and 90 per cent, of the price of land sold by auction was paid in cash. Better prices might perhaps have been obtained: but the general economic advantage of converting these 6,531 tenant holdings into ownership was felt to be a more important consideration than the price obtained. Liquidation of all scattered plots up to 100 feddans in area is being actively pursued on very similar lines during the present year throughout the remainder of the country.

10. Coastguards and Fisheries.

Coastguards. It was expected at the outbreak of war-that normal smuggling would greatly diminish, and the decision was taken, for reasons of economy, temporarily to cease recruiting for the coastguards. A number of British coastguard officers joined the army and the camel corps, coastguard craft, and marine cadets were placed at the disposal of the British IVlilitary or Naval authorities. Though the Coastguard Service was relieved of the duty of guarding the Suez Canal, it was faced with> the new obligations of preventing tne secret introduction of enemy agents or propaganda upon Egyptian coasts, and the escape of prisoners of war, or military information.

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