HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPAL PEARL BANKS. 



25 



At the actual fishery, a month later, only 1,473,297 oysters were lifted, but this 

 small number was due in part*-, at least, to the fact that the great depth (9 fathoms as 

 compared with 6 fathoms on the Cheval) caused the collapse of several divers and 

 discouraged the others, so that it was found impracticable to work longer ou the bank. 

 The marked decrease in the number of 

 oysters during 1902 was undoubtedly due 

 t< i large Rays. Mr. Hornell found samples 

 of crushed oysters and many broken shells 

 and characteristically comminuted frag- 

 ments, which he has sent to me, and which 

 1 agree are the result of the action of the 

 tooth plates of large Elasmobranchs such 

 as Trygon uarnak and its allies. 



IV. KONDATCHI PAAR 



Fig. 15. Plan of the Periya Paar Kerrai. The 

 whole line surrounding A shows the area as 

 inspected in 1882, the dashed line round B 

 shows the paar in 1884, the dotted line round 

 C shows the condition in 1886, while the two 

 black patches indicate the parts fished in 1835 

 and 1836. 



This is a part of the Chevab group, 

 and evidently forms an extension of the 

 southern end of the East Cheval. Although 

 only one fishery is recorded from this paar, 

 that of 1801, oysters have several times 



been fished or traced extending to the eastward from the southern part of the Cheval 

 paar in the direction of the Kondatchi. Consequently it is quite possible that a bed 

 might mature and a fishery might take place on this just as on any other part of the 

 Cheval region. 



No detailed record of the history is necessary, but it may be added that when we 

 examined this bank in March, 1902, it had about 5,750,000 oysters. These were 

 much reduced in November, 1902, and had nearly all gone by March, 1903, and it 

 seems probable that the destruction in this case may be due to the great numbers of 

 large Star-fishes, and especially of Pentaceros, present on the bank. 



V. PERIYA PAAR. 



This lies outside the other paars in the Cheval district, about 18 miles from land 

 and close to the top of the bank that runs steeply down into deep water. An account 

 of the leading physical and biological features was given in Part I., at pp. 76 and 110. 

 The remarkable fishery record is as follows : 



Mar., 1813. Oysters 2 years old, in clusters, sticking to small detached rocks. 

 Nov., 1863. Young oysters, 6 months old, on piece of ground 3X2 miles. 

 Mar., 1864. Oysters about 12 months old appearing to be same as last year, but 

 2 miles further west. 



E 



