1.0 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XII, 



younger men, and for this we have to be thankful. Further and 

 more definite steps in this direction are now under consideration. 



17. On account of the poor earnings of the Tuticorin divers in 

 1918, and the low market rates prevailing in Calcutta this year 

 (1919) for Ceylon shells, I decided not to send our usual expedition 

 to fish in Ceylon waters. A further reason was that a local specu- 

 lator, without experience of the trade, began to recruit our divers 

 for the same purpose. He made large advances and extravagant 

 promises of pay far beyond what current rates warrant. With 

 adverse conditions reported from Ceylon — extremely high food 

 prices and epidemic diseases — the project has fallen through, at 

 least temporarily, and the divers, after an attempt to coerce the 

 department into extravagant concessions, using the high pay 

 promised to them in Ceylon, as a lever, are now veering round and 

 agreeing to our terms. This incident, and the unreasonable 

 attitude of the divers in face of the concessions given and help 

 rendered to them in the past in many ways, emphasize how 

 precarious is the present system of exploiting our chank resources, 

 where the success of our work depends upon the whims and fancies 

 of ignorant men, easily misled by any specious talker. 



For various reasons no outside diving labour, with the exception 

 of two Arabs, could be recruited. Special attention will be given 

 next season to this subject, as it is increasingly necessary to 

 supplement the local labour available from outside sources. 



18. Ram nad Chunk Fishery. — Results show a steady progressive 

 improvement on the preceding two years. The total yield from 

 the various fishing centres during 1918-19 is shown below in 

 comparison with 1916-17 and 1917-18, viz. : — 



Rameswaram 



Kilakarai and South Vedalai.., 



Pillaimadam, Jadhi quality ,. 



,. Patti „ 



Tirupalagudi, including Siva- 

 ganga. 



19. The fishery at Rameswaram proceeded unusually smoothly. 

 None of the usual difficulties of recruitment was experienced; 

 the Kilakarai merchants were not anxious to take their men to 



