68 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN [VOL. XVI, 



was also taken, with Antedom palmata in crevices of the exposed 

 rock. Little or no alga was present. 



In our traverses zig-zag across the bank we several times 

 passed beyond the margin of the p ar on the westward side, finding 

 there bare and barren sand with an occasional chank {Turbinella 

 pirurn). 



After completing the day's work we anchored on the south end 

 of the par in nine fathoms, and within an hour the crew had 

 caught 16 Kilati (Trigger-fishes, Balistes mitis). Several were 

 examined and in the stomachs of all were found fragments of 

 several kinds of shells, those of young pearl oysters predominating 

 in many. 



The Parmandadai or "Rock-pilot" who is taken out by the 

 Inspector to help in locating the banks informed me that this bank 

 has always been noted for the great abundance of Kilati ; one 

 ballam often brings back a catch of 100 fish from this neigh- 

 bourhood. 



During the day the current set strongly from the north, the 

 steamer drifting rapidly when not steaming. The temperature of 

 the sea at 7 a.m. was 87' F. and at 5 p.m. 88" F. The specific 

 gravity was i,022'8o at 7 a.m. 



The following morning, May 3rd, on heaving the anchor up, 

 18 pearl oysters approximately 6 weeks old, all being of the same 

 size, were found attached to the chain near the anchor end, each by 

 several strands of byssus. All were attached to that part of the 

 chain which would occasionally rest upon the ground- the last 

 two fathoms. It is noteworthy that none of the older sizes were 

 found on the chain, although varying ages were found on this spot. 



UTI Par GROUP. — This region, comprising Uti, Nagara, 

 Uduruvi, Kilati, Atuvaiarpagam and Pattarai Pars, was next 

 examined first by means of diving traverses on May 4th and on 

 the ensuing day by the method of circle inspection as used on the 

 Ceylon side and which is described in detail infra on page 1 56. 



The pars in this group are small and with advantage may be 

 considered as one, under the above title — Uti Par Group. The 

 depth is less than the mean on the Tolayiram, averaging herefrom 

 7 to 8^2 fathoms. 



In all, nearly 350 dives were made in the course of an examina- 

 tion by circle inspection. The centre of the circle was fixed at a 

 point which Captain Carlyon believed from the bearings to lie just 



