62 

 III. — The Boat-Catamaran Coast; Punnaikayal to Cape 



CoMOKIN. 



27. Along the stretch of coast between Tutieorin and Cape 

 Comorin another change in the physical character of the shore 

 line occurs ; here no chain of islands lie parallel with the 

 coast ; in their place we meet with a number of fairly bold 

 headlands stretching towards the east and north-east, usually 

 continued a considerable distance in the latter direction by sub- 

 merged reefs on which the surf breaks heavily in rough weather. 

 These headlands provide good shelter for small craft on the 

 northern side during the south-west monsoon, while from the 

 trend of the coast and the reefs to seaward a fair amount of pro- 

 tection is also given during the remainder of the year. Away 

 from the shelter of the land, the sea is frequently a stormy one, 

 wilder indeed than the Madras sea for here the full force of the 

 south-west monsoon is felt, intensified by the swirl of wind and 

 current induced by the projection of (Jape Comorin into the 

 Indian Ocean. In consonance with this requirement to encounter 

 and ride over the mountainous seas often experienced the 

 catamaran has been perforce retained. At the same time owing 

 to the shelter given by headlands, the ease with which boats 

 may be beached without having to run the gauntlet of the cruel 

 surf met with on the coast of the Bay of Bengal enables the 

 form of the catamaran to be so modified as to become a better 

 carrier and fit to carry larger nets and bigger catches. The 

 boat-catamaran is the result. 



This is a large form of catamaran composed of three logs 

 semi-permanently secured together by cross pieces at either end 

 in such manner that the side logs rise higher than the upper 

 surface of the centre one so as to form a longitudinal hollow 

 which entitles these craft to be termed boat-catamarans ; they 

 are enabled by this contrivauce to carry and operate larger 

 nets than their brethren further north who use the catamaran 

 properly so called. 



In consequence of the greater carrying capacity of these 

 boat-catamarans the fishermen of the coast from Punnaikayal 

 to Comorin use a form of net called the Maddai valai similar in 

 construction to the Odam vala of the Malabar coast. It is a 

 form of seine possessed of a distinct family resemblance with 

 the tuck seine ; like the latter it is a most effective engine for 

 the capture of shoaling fish more particularly the sardine and 

 mackerel. Besides the catamaran, dug-out canoes are much in 

 evidence on this coast ; they are used when fine weather pre- 

 vails. They are employed chiefly in drift netting and line 

 fishing ; the Maddai valai or Odam vala appears not to be used 



