153 



regularity and in a wasteful manner. Particularly is the latter abuse 

 the case in regard to the sub-fossil shell deposits of Ganjam district. 

 For details reference should be made to the bulletin in question. 



31. Edible shellfish. — An enquiry is in progress as to (a) the value 

 of the existing shellfish industry of this Presidency, (/') the means of 

 increasing the supph'es of the more valuable species, and {c) the 

 possibility of introducing improved varieties from other tropical 

 countries, particularly the Malay Archipelago and Southern China ; 

 in both these countries shellfish are much more extensively eaten than 

 in India and great attention is given to their collection and even 

 cultivation. This last enquiry is probably the most important and 

 the most promising of the three, although it is beset with great initial 

 difficulties. 



32. The economic improvement of the fishing population. — To do 

 anything to better materially the economic position of the fishing 

 population is a problem so vast, varied and intricate that infinite 

 patience is required in its treatment ; it cannot be attacked along the 

 whole line at once ; only here and there, where circumstances happen 

 to be exceptional, can beginnings be made. If they prove successful 

 the knowledge of this fact will prove a force of the utmost possible 

 assistance in speeding up further progress. The difficulties usually 

 are initial and due chiefly to the prejudice of the fishermen themselves 

 reinforced by the under-ground opposition of middlemen who dread 

 the enlightenment of the men over whom they have hitherto had 

 great power. 



33. The organization of the Ramnad chank fishery has brought 

 me during the past two years into intimate personal relations with 

 the large fishing population of Kilakarai (Ramnad district) who are 

 professional chank divers. They number some 600 and till recently 

 worked in the Ramnad and Ceylon chank fisheries on what may be 

 called the Sammatti system. Under this system, the boatowners or 

 Sammattis received large cash advances from the Muhammadan 

 chank merchants who are engaged in the Ceylon chank fisheries, and 

 also formerly in the Ramnad fishery before Government took up the 

 lease. In return, the Sammattis agreed to bring specified numbers 

 of divers in their boats to the fishery. To do this, they in turn made 

 similar agreements with individual divers, advancing them varying 

 sums of money. The divers^ so recruited followed the Sammattis to 

 the different fishing rendezvous in Ceylon and Ramnad and fished as 

 directed, changing camp from time to time according to the progress 

 of the season. For the shells fished, the divers received settled rates 

 which usually appear satisfactory in amount. Unfortunately in the 

 settlement of accounts many abuses are said to take place. To begin 

 with, the Sammattis deduct 10 per cent of the total catch as a per- 

 quisite or bonus and 15 per cent as boat hire. The value of the 

 remaining 75 per cent of shells is, however, not paid to the men but 

 is booked to their credit, while on the debit side is entered a host of 

 items for food supplied, fines, interest on the advanced money, and a 

 proportion of all charges incurred by the Sammattis. The divers 

 never see the Sammatti 's books, and they allege that the system is 

 worked so to their detriment that they remain hopelessly in debt 



