I922) MADRAS PEARL FISHERIES 93 



where the rock does not outcrop and with a fair amount of small 

 cultch scattered over the sand. 



The average depth, 9% to 10 and II fathoms, is the same in 

 both ; both are situated further seaward than any other true oyster 

 pars on their respective sides — the PeriyaPar 16 to 18 miles off land, 

 the Tolayiram Par 9 to II miles. 



The faunistic characters approximate in a remarkable manner; 

 the larger and more conspicuous species of animals are the same 

 in both localities. 



In the spcnge, coral, echinoderm, molluscan and fish fauna 

 there is practical identity. One list will serve for both. 



Thus we have as common to each : — 



Pctrosia testudinaria, Spongionella nigra, and Axinella donnani 

 typifying the sponges ; the abundance on these two banks of 

 Petrosia is one of the most remarkable of the many of the striking 

 resemblances between these banks, for this sponge, striking in its 

 strangely massive form, may be said to be limited to them. I have 

 scarcely ever seen it elsewhere in profusion. 



Corals are scarce on both banks, represented by isolated colonies 

 of Astraeids {Favia sp.) and of Meandrina. 



Occasional Alcyonarians and Pennatulids are found, together 

 with numbers of knobbed horse chanks and small lamellibranchs 

 of identical species. Pentaceros lincki, Liuckia laevigata and Antedon 

 are the chief starfishes on the Tolayiram Par. 



On both banks the fish population as represented by the trigger 

 fishes {Kilati), and Vellamin (Letlirinns sp.) and gobies, appears to 

 be greater in numbers than on the banks nearer the shore. 



On the whole both banks are decidedly poor faunistically, with 

 little diversity of life-forms which in the majority of cases are also 

 poor numerically. The absence of Madrepores, of Pinna and of 

 the tubes of Eunice tubifex, is characteristic and noteworthy. 



The Periya Par is cited by Professor Herdman * as especially 

 suitable for dredging over. The Tolayiram Par is equally so, or 

 if anything somewhat superior as the rocky surface is quite free 

 from upstanding growths or rugged inequalities. 



Reviewing the history of the Tolayiram Par as shown by the 

 inspection diaries dating from i860, we find that subsequent to the 

 year named — when the bank was covered with oysters said to be 

 ZVz years old — there are records of the bank having been stocked 



* Loc. cit, Pt. 1, page in. 



