18 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 represent the condition of the paar at the inspections of 

 March, 1902, November, 1902, February, 1903, and immediately after the fishery of 

 1903 respectively, the black areas showing the distribution of the same oysters as 

 those shown in fig. 10, and the dotted areas showing the distribution of a new brood of 

 young oysters, 3 to 6 months old, in March, 1902, and their condition at subsequent 

 inspections. In fig. 13 the obliquely shaded areas represent continuations of the 

 black areas outside the parts actually surveyed, which were only discovered by the 

 divers at the fishery. In figs. 12, 13, and 14 the parts outside the dotted circles 

 were not inspected. The Western Cheval was still covered with the oysters which 

 have just been fished in March, 1904. 



Fig. 14 is of interest as showing the very considerable area covered by fishable 

 oysters (estimated at 22,000,000) which the divers had failed to clear in the fishery 

 of 1903. 



The history of the recent fishery (April, 1904) shows the reliable character of the 

 Cheval Paar. Mr. Hornell, in February, found the three western beds of oysters 

 in practically the same positions they occupied when we surveyed them with Captain 

 Donnan in March, 1902. It is therefore only under some exceptional circumstances 

 that any catastrophe happens to a bed of oysters on the Cheval. 



The general conclusions we arrive at in regard to this ground are : 



1. That the Cheval Paar provides most favourable conditions for future fisheries, 



provided there be a sufficient deposit of spat. 



2. That such deposits of spat are unfortunately of comparatively rare occurrence, 



and this accounts for most of the blank years in the history of the fisheries. 



3. That consequently the need arises for transplanting young oysters from 



elsewhere on a large scale if such blank years on the Cheval Paar are to be 

 avoided. 



Consider, for example, the position of affairs at present and in the immediate future. 

 The recent fishery (1904) has probably cleared the Cheval Paar of all fishable oysters, 

 except what may still remain on the East Cheval from the fishery of 1903. The 

 next oysters to come on are those on the West and parts of the South Cheval, which - 

 are now in their third year, and which will, if all goes well, yield a fishery in 1905 

 and, perhaps, also in 1906. There are no younger oysters in the Cheval district. 

 There has been no fall of spat this year as yet, and the next possible time when it 

 mierht occur will be about December. Taking the most favourable estimate, such 

 oysters would not be fishable until March, 1908, but it may very possibly be that no 

 deposit of spat will take place this year, and that consequently future fisheries, if left 

 to unaided nature, may be still further delayed. There are, however, now plenty of 

 oysters about 6 months old on the Periya Paar. They cover an area of about 

 10 square miles, and are probably sufficient to stock the Cheval Paar several times 

 over. The past history of the Periya Paar justifies us in saying that there is 



