NARRATIVE. 



95 



for the purpose of obtaining a sample of oysters to be valued by the pearl experts at 

 Colombo in view of the proposed fishery. The following paars were inspected : 

 South, East and West Cheval, and Periya Paar Kerrai in considerable detail, and from 

 these samples were lifted (fig. 27) ; while the following were less fully examined : 

 Kondatchi Paar, Dutch Modragam Paar, Muttuvaratu Paar, Chilaw Paar, and 

 the ground off Negombo. Mr. HoKNELL examined large numbers of oysters from the 



Fig. 27. Valuation sample of pearl oysters from the Cheval Paar, being brought on board the 

 " Rangasameeporawee " from the inspection boats from a photograph by J. Hornell. 



various paars as regards their sexual condition, parasites and the occurrence of pearls. 

 He also investigated the plankton as fully as possible, and found, on Muttuvaratu 

 Paar, the youngest stages of the larval Cestode which we regard as the chief cause of 

 pearl-formation free-swimming in the water. 



Mr. Hornell also took a considerable number of living oysters round with him 

 from Muttuvaratu and Chilaw paars to Galle, where he placed them at various chosen 

 spots in the lagoon for observation and experiment. 



The official samples of pearl oysters taken from the Cheval Paars and Periya Paar 

 Kerrai in November were valued in Negombo by five expert native merchants and 

 Captain Legge, the Inspector of Pearl Banks, with the following results : 



12,000 oysters from the South-East part of the Cheval Paar, at Rs. 10 25 c. per 1 000 

 1,000 East Cheval Paar, at Rs. 1 8 1 7 c. 



2,000 North-East part of the Cheval Paar, at Rs. 23 12 c. 



2,000 ,, Periya Paar Kerrai at Rs. 13 25 c. 



