51 



well forward owing to the straight cut of the stem and deep 

 forefoot. The latter characteristics enable these boats to beat 

 against the wind in a way unknown to the pattamar and similar 

 craft on the West Coast. No finer sight can be seen oft' our 

 coasts than a fleet of these boats beating out to the roadstead in 

 the face of a strong breeze. Heeling well over under the power 

 of the great lateen that billows in graceful curve below its huge 

 yard, these boats ride the seas in a manner that bespeaks the 

 weatherliness of their model, and the skill of the helmsman. 



For deep-sea fishing their beam is somewhat low ; the 

 absence of a mizzen would be a drawback in drift net fishing but 

 with these points remedied and a full or halfdeek provided, I 

 believe such a boat, maimed as it would be by men accustomed 

 to the rig from boyhood, would be perhaps as serviceable, 

 seaworthy and speedy a fishing boat as one could desire. 



26. This type of boat has never been employed locally in 

 sea-fishing other than pearling, indeed owing to the great 

 demand for lightermen at Tuticorin and the good wages paid, 

 there is comparatively little fishing done at Tuticorin and what 

 is done is largely carried on in canoes. The men are, however, 

 quite willing to go with the times once it be shown that it is 

 profitable to change their methods. Partly by reason of the 

 increasing demand for good fish and partly to greater inter- 

 course with Ceylon, the Sinhalese outrigger-canoe or Kulla is 

 gaining a footing in Tuticorin. Four years ago the first one to 

 be owned by a Tamil was brought from Ceylon ; to-day the 

 same owner possesses two and two others own one each, all em- 

 ployed in whiffing for seer {Cylium). These swift sailing boats 

 in the season go long distances seawards, 10, 12 and even 20 

 miles from land. They are probably the first outriggers worked 

 by Tamils, and few as their number still is, they, in common 

 with the utilization of sailing lighters in the pursuit of flying- 

 fish off Negapatam, indicate that the fisher community is 

 awakening to the need for better sea boats in face of the larger 

 demand for fish brought about by increase of spending power 

 among all classes and the improvement in means of transit 

 provided by the extension of steam communication. 



In passing it is interesting to note that the demand for fresh 

 fish in the Tuticorin bazaar has created the beginnings of a 

 fish carrier trade ; it is now a regular practice to despatch swift 

 canoes from Tuticorin to the fleets of catamarans and canoes 

 fishing off Vaipar northwards and off Punnaikayal to the south- 

 ward to purchase fish as it is caught and hasten back with it to 

 Tuticorin. 



