120 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XII, 



of many varieties differing according to the kind or size of fish 

 intended to be caught. It is made of either cotton or hemp. It is 

 operated from one small canoe with 3 to 4 men. The following- 

 are the varieties of cast net: — 



(i) Kara Vala (cast from shore) or Thirutha Vala (Thiru- 

 tha-mullet) made of hemp. 



(ii) Muttu Kanni Vala (close meshed) for prawns — cotton or 

 hemp. 



(iii) Kettum Vala for sardines and mackerel — cotton or hemp. 



(iv) Churukku Void do. do. do. 



(v) Ncthcl Vala for nethel fish (anchovy) this is the smallest 

 meshed cast net, l/l2th inch square mesh. 



(vi) Narimin Vala.— This is the biggest meshed cast net 

 for Narimin (Lates), 4-5 inches square mesh. 



Unlike other nets described hitherto the cast net is made of 

 one single piece, 7 to 14 cubits long, from the apex to the peri- 

 phery : the weights used are of bronze, iron or lead weighing 8 to 

 24 lb. The cost of the cast net is Rs. 7 to Rs. 30 (pre-war) and 

 Rs. 10 to Rs. 45 (presentl 



(5) Gill Nets. — (a) Ayala Chala for mackerel, (/;) Mathi Chala 

 Vala for sardines. These are made of thin cotton thread 3 to 4 

 ply of No. 10. Unlike drift nets, these nets are operated only on 

 sighting fish. Shoals are quickly encircled and the fish inside 

 being frightened by the noise made against the canoes and 

 against the surface of water by two iron balls each tied to a coir 

 rope, get enmeshed in the net. 



(6) Drift Nets. — These are of the following varieties and 



are all made of hemp : — 



Number an.l 

 Mesh. nature of ply used. 



(a) Poocha Kandadi, l l A inch diagonally 3 thin ones. 

 (/>) Kandadi, I to \ Y /i ,, ,, 3 thicker ,, 



■ (e) Ayviral Kandadi, 2% ins. „ 4 



(five-finger meshed diagonally). 

 (d) Odu Vala, 3 to 4 ins. diagonally 4 to 5 „ „ 



{e) Narian Vala,' 5 to 6 „ „ 6 to 7 „ ,, 



(/) Sravu Vala (shark net), 8 to 10 ins. 12 to 14 ,, „ 



The kind and size of fish caught in each varies as noted 

 below : — 



(a) Small sharks, valai and other smaller fish. 



(l>) Big valai, medium sized sharks and small seer. 



