Il8 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. Xll, 



of the periphery (Mevala) runs a thick coir rope to which are 

 attached two big and three to nine smaller floats, the number of 

 the latter depending on the depth required, while there is a thin- 

 ner rope along the remaining three-fourths (Allu Vala), which 

 connects the Thattu (coir net). 



Thattu. — This coir net portion is also made up of three parts 

 " Keezh Vala," " Kachu Vala " and " Kadangani " as below :- 



1. Keezh Vala ... ... 50 cubits long. 



2. Kachu Vala ... ••• 55 do. 



3. Kadangani ... ... ••• ... 20 fathoms long. 



4. Kamba (stout coir rope) ... ••• 20 to 100 fathoms 



long. 

 The size of the meshes increases gradually from the com- 

 mencement of Keezh Vala to the end of Kadangani as can be seen 

 from the following table : — 



Number of 

 >\zc of mesh. ineshes along 



the width. 



Keezh Vala (for 15 8 fingers (knot to knot). 50 



cubits in length). 



Do. 10 do. ... 50 



Keezh Vala (for 20 12 do. 50 



cubits in length). 

 Kachu Vala for 55 12 do. ••• 45 



cubits. 



Kadangani for 19 1 cubit 35* 



knots. 



Do. 18 lY 2 do 25 



knots. 



Do. 17 2 do. ... 20 



knots. 



There are two big floats and three small ones generally 

 along Mevala, ten small ones along each Kachu Vala and two 

 along Kadangani while there are two and four weights along the 

 lower line of Keezh Vala and Kadangani respectively. The price 

 of one Naria Vala varies from Rs. 100 to Rs, 150 (pre-war) and 

 Rs. 225 (present). Sardines, mackerel, prawns and other miscel- 

 laneous fish are caught with this. 



(6) Eda Vala or Anjezha Vala (5 ply net).— This is similar 

 to (a) in shape and dimensions but the number of ply used in the 

 peripheral portion is more by one or two and more of No. 10 count 



