No. 1 (1922). ADMINISTRATION REPORT, 1920-21 15; 



An investigation of the causes that have led to this great 

 reduction will be undertaken personally by the Director, who has 

 special and long-standing experience of this industry, having reorga- 

 nized both the Tinnevelly and Ramnad fisheries when those were 

 under his direct control ; in the 6 years after the leasing of the 

 ttamnad fishery and ending with 1918-19 a total net profit of 

 Rs. 2,75,64-8 was obtained from these fisheries, while the net profit 

 for the 3 last years of this period when organization was perfected, 

 amounted to the handsome annual average of Rs. 64,557. Any 

 considerable fall from this figure entails auxiety, particularly when 

 associated with a great diminution in the number of shells fished. 

 Were it not that we are now receiving the highest price on record 

 for the Tuticorin chanks (Rs. 325 per 1,000, compared with 

 Rs. 99-9-7 when first I took over charge m 1909), the net profit 

 would be still more disappointing. 



20. Tinnevelly chunk fishery . — The year's catch of shells was 

 109,434 as against 158,941 in the preceding year. In addition, the 

 large number of 23,177 undersized were brought in, a number 

 greater than usual. Special attention must be given next season 

 to prevent these being brought ashore ; they are of trivial value 

 to Government and connote an equivalent reduction of the number 

 of valuable fullsized shells available for fishing next season. The 

 fishery commenced on 30th October 1920 and ended on 9th May 

 1921, the number of non-working days during this period being 59. 

 The maximum number of divers employed was 43 as against 53 last 

 season, and of these only 25 were local men. It is increasingly 

 evident that diving as an occupation is becoming yearly more un- 

 popular in Tuticorin, where less strenuous and. more regular 

 employment is open to the sons of divers and fishermen owing to 

 the development of the town as a great shipping and industrial 

 centre. As a consequence, if more divers are to be employed, the 

 system of recruitment from the Ramnad coast must be developed, 

 and to do this, a further increase in the rate paid for shells seems 

 inevitable. Apart from this, the wenther conditions were adverse 

 both at the beginning and towards the end of the fishery. Seven, 

 hundred and seventy-five shells were collected at Idinthakarai as 

 against 480 last year. 



21. Ramnad chank fishery.— The total catch for the year 

 amounted to 171,774 as compared with 177,858 shells in the 

 previous season, the details being as follows : — 



Rameswaram ... 

 South Vedalsi and Kilakarai... 

 Pillaimadam ... 

 Tirupalakudi ... 



