INTRODUCTION, 8 



A notable feature of these fisheries, under all administrations, lias been their 

 uncertainty and intermittent character. The Dutch records show that there were no 

 fisheries between 1732 and 1746, and again between 17G8 and 1796. During our 

 own time the supply failed to mention only the longer, intervals in 1820 to 1828, 

 in 1837 to 1854, in 1864 to 1873, and finally after five very successful fisheries in 

 1887 and the succeeding years, culminating in the record fishery of 1891 (when the 

 Government proceeds reached close upon a million of rupees), there has been no return 

 for the last decade. In addition to the longer intervals given above, there were many 

 unproductive single years or groups of two and three ; in fact there were, in all, only 

 36 fisheries during the nineteenth century. It will be of interest to give here 

 the complete list in the following table (p. 4), compiled by Mr. Hornell at the 

 Government Record Office in Colombo. Besides showing the marked intervals, and 

 the general irregularity in results, it brings out the very considerable value of the 

 fisheries, and is a useful indication of the relative productiveness of the principal 

 paars. 



The intermittent character of the fisheries has been recognised by various writers 

 both before and since 1740, when Baron von Imhoff, then Governor, wrote in a 

 memorandum for his successor : " It is now several years since the pearl banks 

 have fallen into a very bad state both at Manaar and Tuticorin ; this is mere chance, 

 and experience has shown that, on former occasions, the banks have been unpro- 

 ductive even for a longer period than has yet occurred at present." What was 

 formerly put down to "chance" has in most lines of inquiry proved susceptible of 

 scientific analysis and explanation, and it is reasonable to expect that, in the case of 

 the pearl fisheries, investigation will lead to abetter understanding of the phenomena, 

 and a rational treatment based on such knowledge to a greater regularity in the 

 results. 



Writing in 1697, for the instruction of the Political Council of Jaffnapatam, the 

 then Commandant of that town justly remarked that " the pearl fishery is an 

 extraordinary source of revenue on which no reliance can be placed, as it depends on 

 various contingencies which may ruin the banks or spoil the oysters." The above is 

 quoted by both Thurston and Collett in their recent papers. Mr. Thurston's 

 comment is : " And this remark holds good after the lapse of two centuries." The 

 late Mr. Oliver Collett adds : " This statement holds good after a lapse of more 

 than two centuries indeed, the periodical disappearance of oysters from certain of 

 the banks, sometimes for many years at a time, may be said to form one of the 

 jjeculiar characteristics of the Ceylon fishery. Nevertheless, since the British 

 occupation of the island, a sum equal to more than one million sterling lias lieen 

 derived from the fishery ; and the matter is therefore one of immense importance to 

 the Government of the Colony."* 



* "Pearl Oysters and Pearl Fisheries," by 0. Collett, F.E.M.S., ' Journ. K. Asiat. Soc.,' Ceylon 

 Branch, vol. XVI., No. 51, 1900. 



B 2 



