102 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



and is the longer. The sails may be classed as lateen; probably 

 the typical lateen was evolved from sails such as these. The head 

 of the sail is lashed to a long yard ending forward in a peculiarly 

 curved heel-piece. A boom is used, but extends only along the 

 after portion of the foot of the sail; a stout rope runs along the 

 forward part — a device intended to permit the foot of the sail to 

 bend angularly at the point it meets the mast, on certain courses. 

 The fore angle of the sail is cut off, giving a short luff. The sail is 

 suspended from the mast head by a doubled grommet. Reefing 

 can be practised in stormy weather by rolling the lower part of the 

 sail upon the boom ; the head of the sail can also be lowered in 

 some degree, as a series of notches are cut for some distance down 

 from the mast head, and the yard grommet and stays can be 

 lowered to rest in any of these. The masts are provided with one 

 fore and one back stay and the sails have each a sheet and a yard 

 guy. Seven men constitute the crew. 



Besides what has been mentioned the equipment consists of — 



Four short catamaran paddles (tildvu) thin, blade-like and 

 slightly curved; a beaded edge along one margin gives purchase 

 for a secure grip ; 



Three rowing oars, each with a long cuneate blade tied to a 

 pole shaft ; 



A wooden anchor, one-fluked, with a stone attached crosswise 

 at the other end to form a stock ; 



Two dip-nets {kachd) made by lashing a rectangular piece of 

 netting between two parallel poles, each 7 feet long. The net is 

 5% feet between the poles and the length is 4 feet 8 inches ; 



Three bundles (kambi) of leaves, of which one is composed 

 usually of branches of the screw-pine {Pandanus odoratissitnus), and 

 the others of the little leguminose shrub called kavalai (Tephrosia 

 purpurea) growing often abundantly in waste places. Sometimes 

 the branches of the neem [Melia azadirachta) are used if kavalai is 

 not readily procurable. Besides these are several coils of coir rope, 

 some light wood floats, empty baskets for the fish, a large 

 chatty of drinking water and a bundle of boiled rice. A peculiarly 

 narrow scoop-like bailer, used to dash water upon the sails, 

 completes the equipment. 



