36 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN [VOL- XVI, 



At the Ceylon fishery of 1694, a similar disparity is noticeable 

 there being then sold : — 



1,290 Christian stones at 6% Rixdollars. 



204 Gentoo (Hindu) at 9 do. 



1,268 Moorish at 11% do. 



In the accounts of this last fishery, I notice an entry of " 13M 

 ammonams of concealed arrack found in the bushes and out of the 

 way places, sold at 6 Rixdollars the ammona = 82% Rixdollars," 

 from which I fear we have to infer that the Paravas were as 

 greatly addicted to this indulgence 200 years ago as they are 

 now and also in the days of St. Francis Xavier ! 



No further fishery appears to have taken place between 1708 

 and the date of the relinquishment of the Governorship of Ceylon 

 by Baron Van Imhoff in 1740. 



Such a lengthy intermittence in productiveness had been a 

 source of continual regret to his predecessors, so that when Van 

 Imhoff wrote his valedictory memoir in 1740 for the information 

 and guidance of his successor, he urged a departure from the 

 policy of conducting the fishery in aumany or directly on behalf 

 of Government. Under such conditions the Government had made 

 its profit by the sale of the right to use diving stones at the 

 fishery (amounting virtually to the taxation of the divers employed) 

 and of the sundry duties levied in the fishing camp (" Exchange," 

 Bazaar and cloths). 



This memoir is perhaps the most valuable and statesmanlike 

 administrative record left by any Dutch Governor. Therefore it is 

 well if I give verbatim the portion relating to the condition of the 

 Pearl Banks at this time and to the alternative policy of 

 administration advocated here for the first time. 



Extract from the Memoir of His Excellency G. W. Baron V<m Imhoff 

 on his departure from the Government of Ceylon, left for the instruc- 

 tion of his successor, His Excellency William Man r its Bruynink. 

 " The Aripo and Tutucoryn Pearl Fisheries are certainly to be 

 " reckoned among the sources of produce to this island or rather of 

 " revenue, for the profit which the Company derives from the holding of a 

 " fishery must rather be classed under the latter head than under the 

 " former, as it consists in different duties which are paid for diving those 

 "banks, and divers sums pail for the stones used in catching the oysters, 

 " and some part in oysters themselves paid as taxes, which are sold when 



