23 



cross to Ceylon whenever a pearl-fishery takes place there. 

 Dried, these mussels will find a ready market in China, and 

 for this may prove more useful than oysters, as the bodies are 

 firmer and more bulky than those of the latter. If put up in 

 a tasteful manner in tins they are also likely to find a ready 

 market. The pearls occasionally contained would also form a 

 source of some profit to the culturist ; they lie nearly always 

 close to the surface of the mantle and would be readily discern- 

 ible during the preliminary preparations for either tinning or 

 drying ; they may be removed at this stage without difficulty 

 and without detriment to the prepared product. 



Combined culture of oysters and mussels is therefore to 

 be recommended, particularly as the only needful preliminary 

 would be to provide a sufficient number of mature mussels 

 to serve as u breeders ". From these the needful spat would 

 arise to populate the oyster beds. With increased experience 

 special mussel spat collectors might be found desirable, but in 

 the beginning no such device appears requisite. 



Area ( ? rhowbea) exists in considerable numbers especially 

 in the Karimanal inlet and its culture on Japanese lines may be 

 feasible if oyster farming be capable of successful conduct. 



Ennore, 

 22?id September 1908. 



