1922] MADRAS PEARL FISHERIES 73 



etc.), the sand itself being of the usual brown calcareous nature, of 

 fine grain and with comparatively little quartz. 



A few living oysters were found on the Naduvu Malai Par aged 

 from 2^2 to 3 years together with many dead shells of about the 

 same age, largely on sandy bottom. As in the Uti Par region the 

 majority of the shells were enveloped in a covering of sponge 

 {CI at lira indica). 



The landmarks for the Karuwal Par region are excellent. To 

 the south Manappad lighthouse is conspicuous, due east is the lofty 

 pile of Trichendur Pagoda while to the north-west is the white 

 mosque near Kayalpattanam village and a Casuarina tope to the 

 south of Pinnakayal, to say nothing of a white gabled Roman 

 Catholic Chapel at or adjacent to Kayalpattanam point. Unfortu- 

 nately the three latter are not marked upon the chart and as the 

 Inspector was uncertain as to whether the tope is on an island 

 or on the mainland and as to the exact relative positions of the 

 chapel and the point named, the difficulties which I experienced in 

 localizing the boundaries and positions of the pars were great and 

 distracting. 



From what I have seen already and from the silent evidence 

 afforded by the charts on which the marks are either not placed or 

 are indicated vaguely and without precision I am convinced that 

 the work of inspection for years past has been carried out without 

 that scrupulous exactitude necessary to obtain satisfactory and 

 reliable results. 



Inner Kudamuttu Par Group.— This group, consisting of 



the Saith Kudamuttu, Kudamuttu, Rajavukku Sippi Sotichcha, 

 Sandamaram Piditta, Pinnakayal Seltan and a few other small pars, 

 was examined on May 6th, the steamer accompanied bv the four 

 inspection boats, two on either side, proceeding slowly from one 

 end to the other, the divers descending to the bottom at regular 

 intervals. 



The ground upon the pars appeared less favourable to the 

 maturing of pearl oysters than that of the Karuwal group. Compet- 

 ing organisms were in greater numbers and more luxuriant in 

 growth ; the banks were typically " dirty," using the term in the 

 oysterman's sense of being pre-occupied by organisms, sponges 

 especially, which give no opportunity to the well-being of oyster 

 spat settling thereon. 



A few old oysters apparently 2 to 2% years old were found, less 

 than half a dozen in number, together with some of a younger 



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