[ vi ] 



which ruins the shell of the pearl oyster and occasionally causes great mortality. 

 Other sponges from the Gulf of Manaar must probably be regarded as enemies, from 

 the damage they do in smothering the pearl oysters they encrust and surround. 



Another report of a comprehensive nature, dealing with about 77 species, is 

 that by Professor J. Arthur Thomson and Mr. W. D. Henderson on the Alcyonaria 

 with the exception of the family Alcyoniidre, reported on by Miss E. M. Pratt. 

 Professor Thomson has kindly provided the beautiful coloured drawings, by 

 Mr. G. Davidson, from which his plates have been produced. But I am really 

 much indebted to all the authors for the careful and excellent drawings with which 

 they have illustrated their reports. Mr. Farran's report deals with a considerable 

 number of species of a group (the Nudibranchiata) which I had hoped to have been 

 able to examine myself. Consecpaently, when collecting in the Gulf of Manaar, I 

 made some colour notes and sketches from the living animals which Mr. Farran 

 has been able to make use of in his descriptions. Mr. Andrew Scott records 77 

 species of Ostracoda, 35 of which are new to science. To all these authors I am very 

 much obliged for their kindness in undertaking the work and for the skill they have 

 exercised in carrying it out. 



It may be well to indicate here the Supplementary Reports that remain. They are 

 all, I think, well advanced, and ought to be ready for publication some time in the 

 summer : Corals, by Mr. G. C. Bourne ; Medusae, by Mr. E. T. Browne ; 

 Antipatharia, by Professor J. Arthur Thomson ; Polyzoa, by Miss L. R. Thornely ; 

 Polychseta, by Dr. Arthur Willey ; Schizopoda and Stomatopoda, by Mr. W. 

 Tattersall ; Macrura, by Mr. J. Pearson ; Brachyura, by Mr. D. Laurie ; Isopoda, 

 by Rev. T. R R. Stebbing ; Molluscan Shells, by Mr. R. Standen and Mr. A. 

 Leicester ; Marine Insects, by Professor G. Carpenter, and the Tunicata, by myself 

 The remaining sections of the Pearl-oyster work, and our Summary of Results and 

 Recommendations as to the Conservation of 'the Banks, should then complete the 

 Report. 



The records of observations sent to me by Mr. Hornell during the latter part of 

 1904, and especially his detailed reports upon the great spring fishery and the 

 November inspection upon which I have based the two first articles in this volume 

 (see p. 1 and p. 37) show that very considerable changes have taken place in 

 regard to the condition of the beds of oysters on the paars and the prospects of 

 fisheries during the next few years. Under the heading " Conclusions," in the 

 article on the "History of the Principal Pearl Banks" in the last volume (Part II., 

 p. 36) it was stated : " Finally, there are prospects of good fisheries both next year 

 and in 1906 on the Modragams and several divisions of the Cheval Paar possibly 

 also on the Muttuvaratu and the Dutch Modragam in the latter year. The results 

 in 1907 and the immediately succeeding years will, so far as we can now see, depend 

 upon whether large measures of transplantation are adopted without delay." In 

 writing of the Cheval Paar (p. 20), also, I recommended that young oysters be 



