47 



introduction into those parts. A few of the well-to-do fishermen 

 and a number of the merchants own these nets and boats which 

 they have brought from Malabar. The Vaibala fishing is carried 

 on only during two or three months following the monsoon when 

 they expect large shoals of cat fish and kora, but as the local 

 fishermen are not experts in the use of this net a large number 

 of fishermen are also brought from Malabar for this purpose. 

 These powerful and effective methods of fishing enable the 

 fishermen to catch enormous quantities of fish and there are 

 recorded catches of sardines worth more than a thousand rupees 

 at a single haul of the Rampani. Though they get comparatively 

 high prices for their fish the general condition of the actual 

 fisher-folk cannot be said to have improved in the same ratio as 

 that of other communities who have been connected with the 

 industry. It is due chiefly to their ignorance and illiteracy as 

 well as to intemperate habits, and being a thriftless people they 

 spend money without the least regard to its value and are always 

 indebted to others. A large number of Moger men from this dis- 

 trict emigrate to Bombay where they are employed as peons, watch- 

 men, and attenders under the big mercantile firms, banks and shops, 

 and after a few years' stay return to their homes with decent sums 

 of money in their pockets. These are very much improved in their 

 ideas and manners and are better oif than their stay-at-home 

 brethren. Recently there has been an awakening and some of their 

 men are attempting to introduce habits of temperance and other 

 reforms in the community. During the last four years some Colombo 

 curers have been resorting to this yard for the purpose of pickling 

 fish, especially mackerel, in a particular manner for consumption 

 in Ceylon. These people pay a higher price for the fish, and their 

 presence has introduced an element of competition with the local 

 curers who have hitherto been getting fish very cheap from the 

 indebted fishermen who were under their control. 



There are a few Mogers in this neighbourhood who own landed 

 property and carry on cultivation in addition to fishing. 



MALPE II. 



This is a private yard belonging to a rich and influential Moger 

 man who has been taking a keen interest in the new methods of 

 curing fish which have been introduced by the Fisheries Depart- 

 ment and with that view had one of his nephews trained at the 

 Government Fisheries Experimental Station in Malabar. He gets 

 fish from nets for which he has. advanced money and also from his 

 own nets. Hired labour is generally employed in addition to four 

 or five permanent servants at Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 per mensem with ration 

 for eight months (September to April). Coolies are paid at job rates. 



UDIAVAR. 



The ticket-holders belong mostly to non-fishing castes. Out of 

 21 ticket-holders in April 1915 only two were fishermen by caste. 

 Fishermen who are Mogers are poor but the curers are well-to-do. 

 They carry on business on a small scale and are not financed to 

 any appreciable extent. The usual loan system during the off- 

 season at 12 to t8 per cent interest is common. Other conditions 

 are similar to those at Malpe, 



