46 CEYLOISI PEARL OYSTEE REPORT. 



In the case of the South-east Cheval there is also the obvious additional argument 

 against fishing in 1905, derived from the small pearl yield given by the present 

 valuation sample ; a year's growth would, no doubt, result in an enhanced pearl 

 value. 



On the other hand, there is, of course, always a certain risk in leaving a fishable 

 bed of oysters unfished, and, once the biological facts given above have been stated, it 

 lies with the Government to decide what risk can be run and what course should be 

 taken. If the 40,000,000 oysters on the South Cheval Paar, or a considerable 

 number of them, can be fished in addition to the 43,000,000 which certainly ought to 

 lie secured first, there will, no doubt, be a large additional profit now a present 

 certainty in place of the prospect of a possibly much greater result next year. 



Summary of the Prospects of Fisheries from 1905-1909. 



The following forecast assumes () the adoption of the suggestion made above as to 

 the order in which the banks be fished ; (b) that extensive cultching operations be 

 undertaken next year to improve the purely sandy areas ; and (c) that no exceptional 

 catastrophe happens, such as an inroad of rays or abnormal weather conditions. 



1905. A fishery numerically as extensive as that of 1904, to be held on the North 

 and South Modragam paars, South-west Cheval Paar, Mid-east Cheval Paar, South- 

 central Cheval Paar. [Possibly also the South Cheval Paar.] 



1906. A fishery of large extent upon the South and South-east sections of the 

 Cheval Paar. [Unless the South be fished in 1905.] 



1907. A small fishery on the same grounds and possibly upon some small patches 

 elsewhere. 



1908. A portion of the Northern and Central thirds of the Cheval Paar now 

 covered with young oysters, if the pearl yield be then found sufficiently high to give 

 a remunerative return. 



1909. A fishery upon the remainder left from the preceding year's fishery. 



That accounts for all the beds of oysters, old and young, now in sight. During 

 these five years other deposits of spat may fall upon reliable paars such as the Cheval. 

 If not, young oysters for future fisheries must be transplanted from the Periya Paar, 

 where they will no doubt be present in abundance from time to time. 



Culture of the Banks. 



In various parts of this Pteport Mr. Hornell and I have urged the necessity of 

 transplanting large quantities of young oysters by means of a dredging steamer, in 

 the event of no fall of spat occurring in the immediate future upon the unoccupied 

 sections of the Cheval Paar. Accordingly, on setting out upon the past inspection, 

 Mr. Hornell was authorised to employ the dredging steamer "Violet" for this 



