64 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



Neither nets nor lines are barked or coloured. The white sand 

 of the bottom suits the natural colour of the cotton nets so well that 

 the men state that barking and the consequent colouring of these 

 frighten and disperse the fish. There are plenty of mangrove 

 bushes on the islands, the bark of which could be utilized for the 

 purpose. Under the peculiar conditions prevailing in the island 

 waters, it is probably better not to bark the nets in spite of the 

 disadvantage of the more rapid deterioration of unbarked nets. 



Their lines are made of cotton thread, 20 to 40 counts, purchased 

 at Cannanore, Tellicherry, Calicut, Mangalore, etc. Aloes (a short 

 leafed variety) abound in all the islands; the fishermen were 

 shown how to extract fibre therefrom and demonstration made of 

 the strength of a rope made of it. But they showed no interest 

 and prefer to buy their thread ready prepared. 



Bait. — 'The bait generally used is coconut kernel cut into small 

 pieces; small fish and the flesh of hermit crabs add to the supply 

 in some islands. Another important bait is the flying-fish 

 and when the men go to the fishing banks, the first few minutes 

 are spent in catching these for bait purposes. But when they 

 are not available, the Poe-min (wooden "false fish ") is used with 

 great success as a substitute. The making of the wooden patterns 

 and the practice of this method of fishing, are pleasures much 

 appreciated both by the fishermen and visitors. A general des- 

 cription of these poe-mins is given at page 114 of the Madras 

 Fisheries Bulletin No. 4, as also photographs showing its actual 

 operation. There are as many patterns of these poemins in every 

 island as there are separate families of fishermen, and they say 

 they are able to claim ownership to missing ones according to 

 the small differences introduced in the ornamentation of these 

 wooden dummies. 



Fish curing. — As stated already no special method of treatment 

 to preserve them for any lengthy period is usually followed, except 

 that of " mas " prepared on all islands; in Minikoi, both the fish 

 treated and the nature of the product are different and form more or 

 less a separate commercial brand. Generally fish are eaten fresh, 

 but whenever catches more than daily requirements are brought in, 

 if they are small ones they are given two or three scorings on the 

 sides and hung up in the sun to dry. With big fish su:h as 

 Ayakura (Seer, Cybium), olaimin {Hisiiophorus), kudiraimin and 

 big Lethrinus and Serranus, — they prepare " mas " by the following 



