60 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



flying-fish advised to the islanders by Mr. Hoinell (vide Madras 

 Fisheries Bulletin No. 4, page 122), the men told me that they experi- 

 mented with the method on one or two occasions, but it was not 

 a success. It may be that they tried this at the wrong season of 

 the year." 



The beche-de-mer industry which was a success for some time 

 in this island has been abandoned, the reason being that an epide- 

 mic of cholera of a few years ago was attributed to the insanitary 

 condition in which the curer kept his yard at that time. The usual 

 rat hunt which is practised in the islands during the Inspecting 

 officer's stay was carried out here also and specimens preserved. 

 These and the Kavarti ones were sent to the Bombay Natural 

 History Society on instructions from Mr. Ellis. They are stated to 

 be all varieties of the common rat (Rattus rufescens) which is occa- 

 sionally a serious pest. They play such havoc that at times in 

 certain islands no coconut is left for plucking. Sometimes a stray 

 shrew (Pachyura sp.) is met with during the " hunt." Earthworms 

 also were obtained and preserved. 



We left the island — the last of the group — at 4 p.m., and sighted 

 Calicut port at 9-30 a.m. the next day, landing at I p.m. 



Boats. — Apart from the big cargo boats (called Kundara) used 

 for carrying the island products such as coir, copra, etc., to the ports 

 on the mainland, usually Mangalore, Calicut and Tellicherry, the 

 general fishing boats may be classified into three kinds according 

 to sizes : — 



The wood used in the construction of these is from the island 

 trees, e.g., Puvarasu, Punna and Chirani. The fishermen them- 

 selves are able and fine carpenters and the boats are of the best 

 workmanship under the circumstances. They possess sails ; but at 

 times, the work of rowing, in order to reach and return from, the 



* This method is successful only during the breeding season and in respect of one 

 species only. — J.H. 



