1 62 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN [VOL. XVI 



provided with twelve concentric circles, the information contained 

 in the diagrams furnished by the four Coxswains. 



By this means he will be enabled to lay down the extent of the 

 rocky bottom present, and later, when the entire inspection is com- 

 plete, the outlines of these areas of rock should be filled in upon a 

 skeleton chart. The final results, if carried out with care and 

 accuracy would provide material, in the course of a few years' 

 work, sufficient to enable a revision of the Pearl Bank chart to be 

 undertaken, in respect of the par outlines or boundaries. 



The resultant chart would then indicate the rocky areas which 

 remain comparatively free from sand from year to year, i.e., the 

 mean distribution or exposure of rocky bottom during normal 

 seasons. If the distribution of oysters be also shown upon another 

 similar skeleton chart, comparison of a series of these with the rock 

 distribution chart would show if any part of the sandy areas 

 frequently bear oysters, and what parts, if any, bring their oysters 

 to maturity most regularly. 



Further and much needed light would also be shed upon the 

 relative value of different sections and would lead probably to a 

 concentration of effort upon certain patches, while others might be 

 found so uniformly unprofitable as to be ignored thereafter, whereby 

 time would be economized or devoted more usefully to the more 

 favourably situated pars. 



The Inspector, when he furnishes his periodical reports, should 

 accompany it by the two charts named — one showing the distri- 

 bution of rock and sand over the ground examined, and the other 

 that of the distribution of oysters, a separate colour being used for 

 different ages, the average size being given of each age. 



Copies of these charts should be kept in the Inspector's office, 

 and bound into permanent form every few years for the purpose of 

 future reference. 



(II) 



regulations affecting the capture of fish upon 



the Pearl Banks. 



Whenever a large deposit of young oysters be found on any 

 of the pars, if there be little suran present, I recommend that 



