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the present, been held in abeyance ; it presents great 

 practical difficulties, and it was deemed advisable to 

 concentrate eftbrt on the fish farms. Mr. Wilson also 

 inspected pisciculturally a variety of large tanks and 

 canals, and is assisting the Darjiling municipality by his 

 advice and plans in the matter of trout hatching and 

 culture. 



The conservancy of the upper waters of the Moyar 

 and Bhavani was maintained ; this also is under the 

 Collector of the Nilgiris, but Mr. Wilson reports his 

 opinion that much has already resulted in the increase 

 of the head offish. Mr. Wilson also succeeded in 1910 

 in preventing the hot weather drive and dynamiting of 

 the fish in the Cauvery below Hogenkal — a practice 

 which was wasteful and destructive, as well as illegal so 

 far as the use of dynamite is concerned. 



Pearl and Chank Fisheries. 



25, These will, as usual, be reported on separately. 

 The current season was fairly good, and the shells 

 fished closely approximated to last year's catch ; the sale 

 of the shells has been effected at a rate somewhat lower 

 than last year, but much higher than in previous years. 

 The motor-boat "Pearl" again did excellent work in 

 towing canoes in periods of calm (thirty days) to and 

 from the several diving grounds, and 43,375 shells, 

 which should yield a net profit to Government of from 

 Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000, were in consequence fished 

 which would otherwise not have been taken ; since the 

 total cost of the boat, when at work, for crew, fuel, 

 stores, etc., is less than Rs. 100 per month, her employ- 

 ment has yielded a large net profit to Government. 

 Experience shows, however, that the boat is not quite 

 powerful or large enough for her work and a fresh 

 arrangement is in contemplation. The motor fishing- 

 boat " Turbinella" was used in this service, and by her 

 aid Mr. Hornell examined 34 of the pearl banks, with 

 entirely negative results ; the boat is, hovA'ever, much 

 too small for continuous work and a vast area remains 

 to be inspected both of the ordinary banks and of 

 ground hitherto neglected but potentially oyster bearing. 

 New plans and estimates were worked out during the 

 year for the proposed auxiliary inspection schooner 

 intended to take the place of the old " Margarita" which 



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