140 



CEYLON PEARL OYSTER KEPORT. 



Taking now the average for all the banks at the November, 1902, and March, 

 1903, inspections separately, we find that the (say) 3-year-old oysters average 

 69"9G X 6479 millims. for all localities, and the (say) 3^-year-old oysters average 

 70/18 X 64 '84 X 29 '33 millims. It is, however, probably not instructive to take an 

 average for all of the banks, since two distinct types of oyster occur those 

 exemplified by the Eastern Cheval and the Muttuvaratu respectively. It is, there- 

 fore, better to group the Periya Paar Kerrai with the East Cheval in order to 

 ascertain the normal rate of increase under favourable conditions, at the age 

 considered : 



