109 



result of the work Las been to show that the plankton of the 

 latter district is not only very interesting and varied as is 

 already known but is also great in quantity, abundant enough 

 to be attractive to shoaling fish and sometimes comparing 

 very favourably with the average of the shallow waters bathing 

 the mainland. 



E. — The principal fishing methods pursued on the Malabar 

 and South Canara coasts. 



98. This will be the subject of a separate report. A large 

 amount of material has been collected but as it will depend 

 largely upon drawings and diagrams for proper presentment, 

 the account has to be held over for the present. 



F. — An enquiry as lo what West Coast ports are suitable as 

 fishing centres if a deep-sea fishery be developed. 



99. The facts gleaned anent this enquiry have been in- 

 corporated in a separate and wider report dealing with the ports 

 of both coasts of the Madras Presidency. It is unnecessary 

 therefore to write further upon the subject in this place. 



Q, — Notes on a cruise to the Laccadive Islands to investigate the 

 present condition there of fishing arid jUh-cuiing and the 

 potentialities of (heir marine resources. 



100. In view of the fact that the Laccadive Islands possess 

 no export trade in cured fish worth mention, while the neigh- 

 bouring archipelago of the Maldives counts this their foremost 

 and most important industry, it was decided that as the former 

 islands are within the administrative districts of South Canara 

 and Malabar, it would be desirable to take advantage of the 

 " Margarita's " presence on the West Coast in November 1908 

 to pay a short visit to a few of the islands nearest the mainland 

 in order to make a preliminary investigation of the fishing 

 industry as at present carried on and to gauge the possibilities 

 of development. 



101. We accordingly left Mangaiore on a seven days' 

 cruise at 11 a.m. on 25th November, the bunkers full and all 

 available space on deck piled with coal. At the start the wind 

 was westerly and the sea smooth ; when 35 miles out a swell 

 from the north was encountered and increased gradually till 9 

 p.m. when the ship was rolling heavily. This swell coincided 

 with a marked set to the southward which continued from 30 

 to 60 miles from land; thereafter the set was to the north-west 

 and west-north-west for the rest of the w T av to Kiltan, the 

 first island of call. 



