100 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



The season in the south runs generally from the end of May till 

 the middle of July. The chief controlling factor in lengthening 

 the season beyond this period is delay in the arrival of the summer 

 rains and of the consequent river floods. The latter, particularly 

 in the south (Tanjore district) where the Cauvery and Coleroon 

 open to the sea, bring down such enormous volumes of silt-laden 

 water, that when the monsoon floods come, the sea for many miles 

 from shore becomes discoloured with reddish mud in suspension ; 

 this the fishermen aver ends their fishing season, as flying-fish 

 never enter muddy or discoloured water. As the river floods north 

 of Tanjore are far less in volume than those of that district and 

 come usually later, the flying-fish fishery in the north extends 

 generally some weeks later. In the neighbourhood of Cuddalore, 

 it usually lasts to the middle of August, and off Madras, in 

 years when the rains are greatly delayed, it may even extend into 

 September. 



This year (IQ22) the Tanjore fishery began on 22nd May and 

 the end came somewhat earlier than usual, on the very day our 

 inspection was made — 15th July, in consequence of a spell of con- 

 tinuous bad weather characterized by high winds and overcast 

 skies, during which catches were unremunerative. 



Two species of flying-fishes are recognized by the fishermen, a 

 larger called distinctively Thai-kola (" Mother-kola ") and a smaller 

 one, usually called simply Kola. The former has spotted pectorals 

 and is Cypsilurus poecilopterus (C. and V.). It is caught on hand- 

 lines. The smaller species, which runs generally 8 to 9 inches in 

 extreme length, is also a Cypsilurus; the species remains to be 

 identified. Sometimes both may be called Paravai-kola or Paravai- 

 min (= flying-kola or flying-fish), but generally Kola alone is used, 

 and this often leads to misunderstanding for Kola is also used 

 generally as the name for the half-beaks {Hcmirhamphus spp.). 

 The popular belief is that Cypsilurus poccilopterus is the male and 

 the smaller species the female. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE CATAMARANS USED. 



As above mentioned, the catamarans (Kolamaratn) employed 

 in this fishery are greatly specialized. They are indeed the 

 highest development of the catamaran form on the Indian coast. 

 They are designed and built solely for this particular fishery and 

 as they have to go comparatively far into the sea — up to 25 miles 



