43 



debouches into the sea. As a haven for small craft the river is 

 considerably superior to that at Negapatam as the depth of 

 water on the bar is seldom less than 2 feet at low tide, the mean 

 range of springs being 2~ feet. In the north-east monsoon the 

 depth is greater and ships of 200 and 300 tons burden used to 

 enter the river at that season and undergo repairs in mud 

 docks. On September 29th when I visited Nagore, there was 

 little surf on the bar and three schooners were in the river, 

 ranging in size from 50 to GO tons, the crew of one busily 

 engaged in making ready for sea. 



As the fishermen of Nagore are comparatively numerous 

 and as many of the Lubbais who form a preponderating section 

 of the population are well provided with money, the principal 

 elements are present to make Nagore a thriving fishery port 

 once the utility and profit of sea- going fishing boats be 

 demonstrated. 



1 6. Velanganni, a large Roman Catholic fishing village, 

 located at the mouth of a creek some 6 miles south of Negapatam 

 is in quite as bad a condition as its larger neighbour. During 

 the hot weather there is seldom more than b" to 12 inches of 

 water on the bar at low tide, putting it out of count when in 

 competition with places such as Nagore and Thopputturai. 



Thopputturai is a rising port a few miles north of Point 

 Calimere. Like all other harbours on this coast it lies at the 

 mouth of a small river differing chiefly in that it is more 

 suitable for boat traffic than most others. At low water there 

 is said to be seldom less than 2 J feet of water on the bar. A 

 number of dhoneys of 20 to 3l.) tons belong to this port, which 

 affords excellent shelter during the south-west monsoon. 

 Altogether it is a verv srood harbour for shallow-draft craft and 

 as a fishing boat centre during the south-west monsoon. 



17. Point Calimere would form an excellent location for 

 deep-sea fishing boats. There is no harbour and no need of 

 one, as boats may anchor under the lee of the land to the 

 northward of the point during the south-west monsoon, and to 

 the west and south-west of it during the north-east monsoon. 

 If the necessity for shelter be urgent they may run for refuge 

 to Thopputturai harbour. Fishing boats using the neighbour- 

 hood of Point Calimere as their base would have the option 

 of two rail ports at which to land their catches, Negapatam 

 during the south-west monsoon and Adirampatam during the 

 north-east. 



18. With Point Calimere my review of ports on the 

 catamaran coast from the Nellore district southward ceases. 

 We have seen that within this extent of 330 miles of coastline, 



