4 6 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



[VOL. XVI, 



The oysters are at the present day fished on Government 

 account and according to the arrangements in force at the last 

 three fisheries the Government claim two-thirds of the total catch, 

 selling their share at auction. The remaining third is the remu- 

 neration allowed to the divers and boat owners. 



In the following table I list and contrast all the fisheries of 

 which I can find record on the Tuticorin and Ceylon sides, respec- 

 tively, of the Gulf of Mannar : 



Particulars of Pearl Fisheries from 1658 to 1922. 



Off Madura coast. 



Year 



of 



Govern- 

 ment 



fishery, proceeds. 



1663 



1669 

 1691 



1700 

 1708 



1747 



1748 

 '749 



Fl. 18,000 



Very 

 meagre. 



£ 9.000 ., 



& 5.000 

 £9.560 

 £ 5,3<>o 



Remarks. 



I can find no particulars 

 of profits r alized. 



A disastrous 3-days' fishery 



= Fl. 1,06,176 gross pro- 

 ceeds. 



Off Ceylon coast. 



Year 



of 

 fishery 



Government 

 proceeds. 



Fl. 60,000 

 Fl. 1,14720 •{ 

 Fl. 63,600 J 



f Fide Gover 

 nor Sch- 

 reuder's 

 Memoir 

 of 1762, 

 as given 

 in Lee's 

 edition 

 of Ribey 

 ro's 

 " Cey- 

 lon." 



1666 



1667 



£ s. d. 



4,913 15 11 



6,160 7 5 



1694 5,264 16 1 



1695 6,177 3 9 



1696 6,3:51 18 4 



1697 6,453 o 



1708 

 1732 

 1746 



8,848 o o 



Not ascertain 

 able. 

 4.766 13 4* 



Remarks. 



Fished on Govern- 

 ment account 

 giving net pro- 

 fit as shown. 

 Do. 



Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 



Do. 



An unproductive 

 fishery. 



Fishery rented 

 out to adven- 

 turers. 



1747 21,400 o 



^ 174S 38,580 o o 



1749 68,375 o o 



i75o 



5,940 o o 



Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 



Fishery of 6 days 

 only. 



* According to Schreuder ; £ 12,000 according to Lee (Ribeyro). 



