46 



stability to face monsoon winds some miles out at sea, especially 

 as with southerly and south-easterly winds a heavy sea sets into 

 the bay of Adirampatam. The combination is a difficult one to 

 achieve and the type of boat that has evolved is like many 

 compromises — a result that is far from satisfying to the critical 

 mind though practically it may be and probably is the best result 

 possible pending, say, the introduction of shallow- draft motor 

 lighters, which would be a boon to shipping at this port were 

 it not that sailing vessels the world over and in India in parti- 

 cular seldom appreciate that time is a synonym for money in 

 commerce. 



The Muttupet type of fishing boat is much longer and 

 narrower than that of the cargo boats and is built on the lines of 

 a canoe, so that in calms and headwinds it may be propelled by 

 paddles with fair speed and a minimum of exertion. Three 

 masts are stepped, the fore and mizzen masts extremely short, 

 the main considerably longer ; the sails are small square sails 

 good enough for running before the wind, but not very service- 

 able in beating to windward ; for this, reliance is placed upon 

 their numerous paddles ; they are really rowing canoes of great 

 size fitted with masts and sails to enable them to take advantage 

 of favouring breezes. They offer no assistance in the problem 

 before us save that they serve as training schools to a consider- 

 able body of men who would readily adapt themselves to the 

 handling of fishing luggers. 



Adirampatam fishing boats differ in having one mast only ; 

 a long balance board or outrigger projects on either side. 

 Plate I, figure 1 , depicts the peculiarities of this essentially 

 local type. 



Ammapatam arid Tondi. — These ports lying on the western 

 coast of Palk Straits are open roadsteads ; they appear too 

 exposed to form suitable centres for moderate draught fishing 

 boats but I am unable to write definite! v as this is one short 

 stretch of coast line I have not yet been able to visit. 



21. Pamban, with which must be included Mandapam on 

 the mainland, is remarkable for having produced a type of boat 

 running from five to fifteen tons, more nearly akin in build and 

 rig to North European design than anything else in India. Its 

 use was primarily to ferry pilgrims bound for the great shrine 

 of Riimeswaram across the Pamban Pass, the narrow strait 

 separating Mmeswaram island from the mainland. The wind 

 seldom serves both ways and a long series of short tacks is often 

 necessary — the outcome of which necessity has wrought such a 

 modification of the lateen sail as to give the Pamban rig a close 

 approximation to the handy fore and aft rig seen so highly 



