No. I (1920) ADMINISTRATION REPORT, I918-I9 13 



villages as bases for illicit operations under cover of fishing the 

 Sivaganga beds. 



24. New Works. — A second set of divers' lines was completed 

 during the year at Ramesvaram, giving much needed accommoda- 

 tion to the divers attending our camp. The crews of ten canoes 

 can be housed in these new lines. The cost was Rs. 1,540. Part of 

 the original set of lines was also converted into an office and store- 

 room at a cost of Rs. 418-2-IO, thus enabling us to dispense with 

 the rented buildings hitherto occupied — a convenience as well as 

 an economy. A small chank godown costing Rs. 1 50 was erected 

 at South Vedalai, on the land acquired in the preceding year. 



25. Ceylon Fishery. — A fleet of nine canoes manned by sixty- 

 three divers and ten mundaks was despatched to Ceylon in two 

 batches during July and August of 1918, to participate in the 

 Ceylon Fishery. Whereas all the divers in 1917 were recruited at 

 Tuticorin, in 1918 four crews joined from Ramesvaram. The 

 results attained were not satisfactory in any way, save that these 

 men were given employment at a time when remunerative work at 

 home was practically unobtainable. The total catch was 51,370 

 full-sized shells and 8,419 under-sized and wormed, confiscated. 

 Fishing was possible on forty-one days only, the weather being 

 broken and unsettled, with turbid water for most of the time the 

 men were away. South-west winds continued much beyond the 

 normal season and in greater violence than usual. The season was 

 altogether abnormal and unfavourable. Add to this that influenza 

 prevailed in the camp during the latter part of the season, incapa- 

 citating many of the divers just at the time when better weather 

 began. The poor catches entailed by these untoward conditions, 

 conjoined with the excessively high price of rice at Jaffna — two 

 measures only per rupee — made existence difficult for the divers 

 and entailed grumbling and discontent. The average cost of 

 provisions was Rs- 9-8-O per month per man, so if his earnings be 

 calculated at Rs. 15 per month, he had Rs. 5-8-O only to send to 

 his family in India — a sum manifestly insufficient. 



The rate given, Rs. 75 per 1,000 shells, was governed by that 

 paid by the Kilakarai and Jaffna merchants ; this was Rs. 13-8-0 

 less than the 1917 rate, in consequence of the depressed state of the 

 Calcutta market for this class of shell. 



The shells brought back remain unsold. They have been 

 offered for sale twice, but so far^the best offer has been Rs. 105-10-0 



