DESCRIPTION OF THE PEARL-OYSTER BANKS OF THE GULF OF MANAAR. 107 



When we saw this hank in March, 1902, it had a crop of pearl oysters estimated 

 at 5| millions. These had nearly all gone by March, 1903, and it is probable that 

 their disappearance may be accounted for by the very large numbers of starfishes 

 present, especially Pentaceros lincki (fig. 33). 



Fig. 33. Pentaceros lincki, de Bl., lying on a large pearl-oyster, half natural size. From a 



photograph by J. Horneli.. 



Jagerboom Paar. 



This lies 2 miles south of Kondatchi Paar and about 6j miles off-shore, opposite 

 Kallar. It is about 1^ miles across and has depths of 4 to 5j fathoms. The divers 

 brought up pieces of the " rock " bottom, which consisted of rough quartz sand 

 cemented by carbonate of lime, together with fragments of shell. 



There are many starfishes (Pentaceros lincki) on this paar, as on Kondatchi Paar, 

 and these probably contribute to the mortality of oysters. 



An old Dutch " Jagerboom " bank is also marked on the charts about 2 miles 

 south of the West Cheval and outside the Modragams it is now covered with sand. 



Kallatidel Paar. 



This little paar lies 1^ miles to the east of the Cheval Paar and is about 7 miles 



off Aripu. It is nearly 1 mile in diameter and the depth is 5^ fathoms. It is, in its 



present condition, unimportant. 



Aripu Paar. 



This lies 6 miles due west of Aripu, and 4 miles north-east of the north of the 

 Cheval Paar. It is 1 mile in diameter, and the depth is 4 to 5 fathoms. Some old 

 Dutch paars, marked on the charts as " Aripu," lie close to and outside. They are 

 now covered with sand and are unimportant. About 1 mile further inshore lies Aripu 



P 2 



