CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPOKT. 



Mar., 1882. No oysters on banks off Aripu. 

 1883. No oysters. 



,, 1884. Oysters about 3 months old on East and West Cheval. 

 ,, 1885. East and West Cheval covered with a most extensive deposit of young 

 oysters 18 months old. Shoals of Rays were seen, but have apparently 

 done no damage. 

 ,, 188G. Large beds on east and west nourishing. Oysters 2h years old. On 

 the east 202,000,000 and on the west 79,000,000. Loss since last 

 inspection probably due to overcrowding. No damage seems due to Rays. 

 1887. Oysters 3f years old healthy. On east side 195,000,000. On west 

 side 38,000,000 and dead shells apparently destroyed by Rays. North- 

 east Cheval fished (yielded 292,430 rupees). 

 Nov., 1887. Extensive beds of oysters, 4 years old, all over. On west side the 



old oysters are covered with young ones 3 months old. 

 Feb., 1888. Nearly all the old oysters gone from the bank. Possibly caused by 

 currents. But found and fished to the east of the East Cheval (22,000,000 

 oysters yielded 804,247 rupees). West side stocked with young oysters. 

 Nov., 1888. A few old oysters on the east. Young about 15 months old on west. 

 Many dead shells. 

 ,, 1889. On the West Cheval a thick deposit of young oysters 3 months old. 

 Those found in the same place in November, 1888, are all gone. None on 

 the East Cheval. 

 ,, 1890. Four ] latches of oysters 15 months old on west and south. 

 Mar., 1892. Bank bare of oysters. 



,, 1893. West side well stocked with oysters, months old, in detached 



patches. A few small patches on north-east. 

 ,, 1894. Bare of oysters. 

 1895. 

 ,, 1896. Small patch of oysters, 6 months old, on north-west. 



1897. Bare of oysters. 

 1898. A few small patches of oysters, 3 to 6 months <>ld, on south-east. 

 ,, 1899. The few patches of young oysters found list year on East Cheval 



have entirely disappeared. 

 ,, 1900. Very extensive bed of oysters, :! to !) months old, on West Cheval 



3 small patches of similar oysters on east side. 

 1901. Three detached beds on West Cheval. 2 detached beds, li to 2 

 years old, on East Cheval. 

 Oct., 1901. Oysters in abundance, 1^- to 3 years old. on both East and Wist 



Chevals, also spat up to 4 months old on North-east Cheval. 

 Mar., Iy02. Both old (3 years) and young (3 to 6 months) oysters on both East 

 and West Chevals. and also some in the Central area. 



