47 



developed on the Norfolk coast and at the oyster centres of 

 Kent and Essex, where in the one case the configuration of the 

 banks, and in the other the necessity to beat backwards and 

 forwards across a limited dredging ground, require a similar 

 quickness and handiness in going about. 



The smaller Pamban boats carry a single mast bearing a 

 handy lateen lug sail, the larger ones favour a small rnizzen 

 similarly furnished ; both iu variably possess a good jib. Both 

 stem and stern-post are straight, the stern always square and in 

 this differing from the sharp stern seen in the boats of 

 Tuticorin, Kilakarai, and Jaffna (Ceylon). The difference is 

 probably due to the necessity to keep down length in boats 

 having to work through such a narrow and winding channel as 

 Pamban Pass. 



22. The dimensions of two of the smaller Pamban boats are 

 as follows : — 



Length 



Beam 



Depth 



Draft loaded, about ... 



Tonnage 



One of the larger boats, a j6 tonner, when fully laden drew 

 slightly over i feet on an inside depth of 5 feet. From the 

 low free-board allowed it is seen that they are boats intended 

 for work in protected waters ; it is true they often make 

 comparatively long voyages, they are often to be seen in 

 Tuticorin harbour or lying at anchor in the roadstead off 

 Negapatam ; they also attend the Ceylon pearl fishery in large 

 numbers, but such voyages are coasting trips with several 

 snug shelters along the route. To make these boats safe for 

 deep-sea fishing a considerable addition to their beam would be 

 necessary with some little increase in depth and better lines aft. 

 With these modifications such an improved Pamban boat would 

 be able to carry an increased spread of canvas and should 

 prove a useful deep-sea fishing boat. Nothing in rig requires 

 altering. 



As a harbour of refnge Pamban or rather Mandapam is 

 unequalled by any port in India. During the south-west 

 monsoon a fishing fleet would enjoy r perfect security on the 

 northern side of the Mandapam promontory and of Kameswaram 

 island, during which time the boats would have the whole of 

 Palk Strait and Bay for the field of their operations, while 



