INTRODUCTION ix 



in studying the life-history details of the window-pane oyster as exhibited locally, 

 and has laid down considerable numbers on different bottoms in several selected 

 localities to test comparatively the suitability of the different locations and the 

 conditions which conduce to the rapid production of pearls. 



A recent letter received from Mr. S. R. Gupte, the officer charged with this work, 

 records the interesting fact that he has found vast rubbish heaps on the mainland 

 opposite Beyt composed of waste from some ancient and extensive chank-bangle factories. 

 The fragments are largely the discarded apical and oral pieces cut off and thrown away 

 in the sawing of shells for bangle working ; they are similar in appearance and form 

 to those figured in my " Indian Conch Report " on PI. VI. (fig. 3). With them are 

 associated many broken fragments of unfinished bangles the whole being typical 

 waste from a shell-bangle factory. That the industry was conducted on a very extensive 

 scale is evidenced by the great abundance of these remains ; the Government lessee 

 of the present-day chank-fishery is now exploiting the deposit, presumably for lime 

 burning, selling the material at Surat at the rate of Rs. 13 to Rs. 14 per khandi of 20 

 Bombay maunds (560 lb.). Strangely enough, the industry of shell-bangle manu- 

 facture has now entirely died out in this, locality, not a single shell bangle being manu- 

 factured at the present day in Kattiawar. Owing to the war having put an end to the 

 importation of glass bangles from Austria, the demand for shell bangles has greatly 

 increased in Bengal ; the result is a great appreciation in the value of conch shells, 

 amounting in the case of several qualities to as much as 100 per cent, increase. This 

 has reacted favourably upon the various conch or chank shell fisheries, and that of 

 Kattiawar has benefited with the rest. 



It is appropriate to note here that substantial progress has been made in 

 the development of the local chank-fishery since I first drew attention to the 

 importance of this subject in my -original recommendations. In former years 

 barely 3,000 shells were fished annually, and most of these were disposed of to 

 pilgrims visiting Beyt. The greater attention now given to the industry through 

 the efforts of the Director of Commerce and Industry has already had gratifying 

 results ; from a catch of 3,000 shells the production has now risen to 16,000 per 

 annum, with promise of very considerable further increase. Direct relations have 

 been established with some of the most important of the Calcutta chank merchants, 

 whereby enhanced prices have been obtained to the profit alike of the Baroda 

 Government and the lessee. 



An interesting minor shore industry not touched upon in my first report is 

 that of cuttle-bone collection. During the south-west monsoon the " bones " of 

 cuttlefish are cast ashore in great quantity on the Okhamandal coast, and as these 

 are in considerable request in European markets at remunerative rates, the export 

 is considerable. Mr. Gupte informs me that about 300 maunds are exported to 

 Bombay annually, say 75 cwt. at 28 lb. per maund. Seeing that recent quota- 



