122 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XII, 



bigger ones and were knocked down to the highest bidder each 

 day, the value for the various kinds of fishes is proportioned 

 according to that day's market rate which by the way depends on 

 the following considerations : — 



1. The time of the arrival of catch : good price if in early 

 morning or late afternoon. 



2. The condition of the catch. 



3. General abundance or scarcity of fish. 



4 The nature of the day of the sale — the bulk of the con- 

 sumers being Hindus, the catches fetch a low price on all fasting 

 clays, e.g., all Saturdays, fullmoon days, krithigai days, etc. 



Thus the value noted in the tables given below is the whole- 

 sale price. 



How far each of the various nets and lines tried contributed 

 towards this year's catch will be seen from the following list : — 



1. Paithu Vala 



2. Vakku Vala ... 



•3. Sulthan Vala and Kolli Vala ... 



4. Chala Vala 



5. Ozhukku Vala (drift-net) 



6. Veechu Vala (cast-net) 



7. Cheria Veppu (long-line) 



8. Sravu Veppu (long-line with big 



shark hooks) ••• 



9. Kai Chunda (hand-line) 



From the above it will be seen that Paithu Vala, Chala Vala and 

 Sulthan Vala yeilded the great bulk of our catches. Drift-net, cast- 

 net and long-line rank next : the others are negligible. There are 

 no West Coast nets to capture shrimps (Sennakuni) and large 

 mullets which are occasionally got in large numbers by the local 

 men in their minute meshed Eru Valai and Eda Valai (square 

 net). 



* Kolli Vala was tried first and then it was amalgamated with Sulthan Vala tc form 

 a big Sulthan Vala. 



