82 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN [VOL. XVI, 



in this district, though the zamindari does maintain the right to 

 rent out the local chank fishery at the present day ; we have 

 direct and overwhelming evidence that both the Portuguese and 

 the Dutch, over a period of nearly three centuries, exercised the 

 sole sovereignty over the whole of the pearl fisheries on both sides 

 of the Gulf of Mannar. 



The more probable explanation is that these shells represent 

 the remains of a Portuguese pearl fishery camp located here circa 

 1560-70, during the period when the Portuguese, at war with the 

 Nayak, blockaded the Madura Coast and removed the Paravas 

 from Tuticorin and Pinnakayal to settlements in the islands at the 

 head of the Gulf of Mannar. This particular island of Nalla Tanni 

 Tivu would be the natural location of a camp to serve a fishery 

 off the Indian Coast under such circumstances, as it is the nearest 

 one affording a satisfactory and sufficient fresh-water supply. 



Nalla Tanni Tivu and Uppu Tanni Tivu Pars.— Early on 

 the morning of May 13th we left our anchorage off Nalla Tanni 

 Tivu and steamed south 2% miles to the south-west end of Uppu 

 Tanni Tivu Par, where we cast off the four inspection boats with 

 instructions to row E.N.E. over this bank. Several dives from the 

 ship in five fathoms at this place showed the bottom to be flat 

 rock with a considerable amount of sponge growing upon it. 

 From this place we steamed to the eastern edge of Nalla Tanni 

 Tivu Par and there awaited the arrival of the inspection boats. 



The results showed that the interval of sandy bottom between 

 these pars as shown in the inspection chart is largely absent ; that 

 the extent of hard bottom is more extensive than is charted, and 

 that special attention should be given to this region at inspections, 

 especially in view of the remains of old shells on the neighbouring 

 island of Nalla Tanni Tivu. The depth of water on Uppu Tanni 

 Tivu Par varies from 4% to 6 fathoms, while that on Nalla Tanni 

 Tivu Par ranges from S 1 ^ to 7 fathoms, depths rather greater than 

 those recorded on the inspection chart. 



The rock on both pars varies from an almost pure limestone to 

 a calcareous sandstone, in the former case brownish yellow in 

 colouring and ringing like iron under a blow ; this I consider the 

 bed rock of the plateau and not a recent calcrete. It is apparently 

 identical with the hard limestone of Manappad headland. 



Few specimens were obtained as the water was too clouded 

 with mud to permit of objects being seen upon the bottom. The 



