46 



CEYLON PEARL OYSTEE REPORT. 



During the monsoon it might often be difficult to reach this spot by boat across the 

 bay, and the distance round from the town of Galle by land is considerable (see 

 tig. 6), and the latter part of it steep and with no proper road. 

 The possible sites at Galle had seemed to be : 



(1.) In the Fort, where the Government offices and European quarters are 



situated (fig. 6). 

 (2.) On Gibbet Island or Glosenburg, in or about Bayley's Villa or the 



neighbouring native village (tig. 7). 

 (3.) At Watering Point (fig. 6). 



We now ruled out the last ; and made a further examination of Gibbet Island. 

 This is much nearer the town, and has a good road leading to it. Some of tin- 



~ 



*l ~^L 



3i 



3j ' 



3*. 



31 







' 4 4 * 



Fig. 7. Gibbet Island, Glosenburg and neighbouring creeks, in Galle Bay, showing the position of 

 Bayley's Villa, recommended by Professor E. Haeckel, in 1881, as the site of a Biological Station. 



old P. and O. Co.'s quays and walls would no doubt lend themselves well for 

 adaptation as tanks ; but, as I have shown above, it is quite a question whether 

 work would be possible in either of the adjoining creeks during the height of the 

 monsoon, and whether therefore this locality presents any advantage over the Fort, 

 which would be more convenient and satisfactory in many ways for European 

 workers. 



Professor Haeckel writing, in 1881, his opinion of Galle as the site for a Marine 

 Biological Station says* : " But more attractive to me . . . were the magnificent corals, 



* English translation ' A Visit to Ceylon.' Kegan Paul. &c, London. 1883, p. 181. 



