HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPAL PEARL BANKS. 27 



destruction of the successive broods of young oysters seems to be due to the 

 configuration of the ground and its exposure to the south-west monsoon, and (2) that 

 the constant production of fresh spa! renders possible the transplantation of young 

 pearl-oysters in enormous quantities from the Periya Paar to other safer grounds 

 further inshore, such as parts of the Cheval district. 



VI. DUTCH MODRAGAM PAAR. 



This paar, notwithstanding its name, lies at a considerable distance from the better 

 known North and South Modragams. It is about 10 miles to the south-west, and on 

 the other hand is only about a mile to the north of Karativo Paar. It clearly belongs 

 to the Karativo and Muttuvaratu group rather than to the Cheval and Modragam 

 series of paars. It has been described in Part I., at p. 111. 



This is a disappointing but at the same time a promising hank. It has apparently 

 not yielded a fishery in British times, and yet it has, on various occasions, been found 

 covered with oysters both young and old (over 3 years). It has a rough hard bottom, 

 suitable for affording good attachment, and it evidently receives deposits of spat, 

 e.g., one in the summer of 1899 and one in the summer of 1902. Consequently, 

 notwithstanding its poor record in the past, I see no reason why it should not at any 

 time yield fisheries like those of the neighbouring Karativo and Muttuvaratu Paars. 



It is only of the last few years that we have detailed records ; but these, as given 

 below, will serve as a sample to indicate the nature and prospects of the bank. 



Recent History of the Dutch Modragam Paar. 



April, 1899. No oysters. 



Mar.. 1900. 386 acres covered with young oysters 3 to 12 months old {fide 



Donnan). 

 1901. Two small detached beds of oysters from 1^ to 2 years old, 1,750,000, 



rapidly disappearing since last year; about 51 acres of ground covered by 



these oysters (fide Donnan). 

 April, 1902. A small bed of 387,500 square yards (= 80 acres) bearing oysters of 



2 to 2| years old (fide Donnan). 

 Nov., 1902. Oysters were present which, though apparently not over 2 years old, 



must have been 2^ to 3 years of age. They were mixed with quantities of 



young, from 6 to 8 months old. 

 Feb., 1903. At the place where Mr. HoRNEEE made an examination in a diving 



chess, very many pearl oysters lay thickly spread on the bottom, very 



similar in appearance and size to those of Muttuvaratu ; age apparently 



3^- years, with considerable numbers of younger and smaller ones. 



E 2 



