64 



CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



8 to 13|- fathoms and the hottoms and animals were much the same as hefore 

 (including two species of Amphioxus). We found quantities of young oysters in our 

 last haul, about 5 miles south of Periya Paar, 12 to 13J fathoms, on a firm bottom 

 of Nullipores and Orbitolites sand, showing that there are outlying patches beyond 

 the limits of the known paars where oysters may be found. This particular spot 

 would, however, even if the oysters attained maturity, be too deep for most of the 

 native divers to work. Their usual limit is about 9 fathoms. We had them a few 

 weeks later making a few descents for us in 11 fathoms on the Periya Paar, but 

 they had just time to get a sample of the oysters or whatever lay before them on 

 arriving at the bottom. Captain Donnan has had exceptional divers who have made 

 descents for him in 15 fathoms, but they had barely time to secure a single handful 

 of the bottom before having to come up in an exhausted condition. I timed many 

 dives and none reached two minutes, very few were over a minute and a half. 



Samples from all the pearl oysters we obtained on the different paars from the 

 clivers or by dredging were examined as to their food, their reproductive condition, 

 their general condition of body and parasites and as to any stages in pearl-formation. 

 All these matters will however be dealt with separately further on in the report. 



On March 2nd, being now in the neighbourhood of Kodramallai Point and 

 Marichchukaddi, which was the site of the Camp during the three last pearl fisheries 

 (1889 to 1891), and also during the recent fishery of 1903, we took the opportunity 

 to go ashore and inspect, as Captain Donnan thought that possibly we might find a 

 sheltered corner of the bay suitable for the marine laboratory. 



We landed at Kodramallai Point, and examined the coast (fig. 13) tor a little way 



Fig. 13. Part of the'pearl-divers' fleet at Marichchukaddi from a photograph by J Hornell. 



northwards towards the Modragam River, but found it quite hopeless for our purpose. 

 The rock at the point forms a moderate, headland and runs out seawards as a little 

 reef. It is apparently all sandstone ; there is no coral, and it gives practically no 



