80 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN [VOL. XVI, 



When I alighted upon the bottom I found the water so turbid 

 with suspended mud particles that it was impossible to ascertain 

 what lay underfoot save by crawling on hands and knees, and 

 even then I had to bring the helmet window within two inches of 

 the ground. By so doing I found the bottom to be composed of 

 fine calcareous sand commingled with a considerable proportion of 

 muddy sediment. The surface was littered with numerous dead 

 pearl oyster shells both entire and fragmentary, and was underlaid 

 at a depth of from I to 2 inches by fiat-surfaced rock. On the 

 least disturbance the mud constituents rose in dense clouds 

 further obscuring vision. No recognizable reason for the death of 

 pearl oysters could be traced ; their average age was approximately 

 1^2 year. Only a single individual was found alive ; it appeared 

 rather older than those that were dead, with the valves covered with 

 a dense coating of tunicates, sponges and polyzoa ; it had a dis- 

 tinctly stunted appearance. I also came across a considerable 

 number of large Pinna lying prone on the surface, covered as in 

 the case of those found the day previous, with quantities of large 

 barnacles (Balanus sp.) together with a mantling of various species 

 of Leptoclinids and several species of zoophytes. Several massive 

 corals of the kinds usually associated with pearl banks were 

 noticed. 



This bank, which is not marked upon the inspection chart, 

 dated 28th November 1892, by the bearings should lie between the 

 Vaippar Periya Par and Pernandu Par as shown on that chart, but 

 concerning this position there appears to be some doubt as the 

 par-mandadai (native pilot) who accompanied us held that in 

 reality it lies to the north-west of the Devi Par. 



From the character of the bottom such view is not unlikely to 

 prove correct, for however carefully angular bearings be taken, 

 the imperfections of the present working chart hinder them from 

 being plotted thereon with accuracy.* 



The Vaippar Karai Par is an exceptionally dirty and muddy 

 bank, wholly different from the Cruxian Par and associated banks. 

 From what I saw and also from the history of the banks it appears, 

 however, to be rather favourably situated for the deposit of spat 



* The compass hearings were difficult to fix owing to the heavy and continuous roll- 

 ing of the ship. As near as they could he made nit they were 

 Hare Island Lighthouse, S. 57° W. 

 Church Gable, Tuticorin, S. 77' W. 

 North end, Challai Island, N. 17" W. 



