i6 



Superintendent of Pearl and Chank Fisheries. This 

 change has enabled greater attention to be given, alike to 

 general management and to the disposal of the produce 

 to the best possible advantage. The results have been 

 most gratifying for, in spite of difficulties due to a 

 gradual decrease in the number of men available as 

 divers and one season when the weather conditions were 

 exceptionally adverse, the results of the four years of 

 administration under the Fisheries Department have 

 yielded a net profit to Government of Rs. 78,311-13-1, 

 a higher aggregate than for any previous period of four 

 consecutive years during the whole of the time Govern- 

 ment have worked this fishery departmentally. The 

 only comparable period is that of 1 880-1884 when a total 

 of Rs. 71,481-15-9 was obtained. During the latter 

 period, however, lower rates were paid to the divers, so 

 if rates were equalized the comparison would be still 

 further to the credit of the present system. 



The factors against good results comprise head- 

 winds, rough weather at sea, the cloudy condition of the 

 sea, chilly water, morning calms which prevent the 

 canoes from reaching the fishing grounds, the presence 

 of sharks and of shoals of stinging jelly fishes and, most 

 potent of all, the counter attraction of a pearl fishery. 

 The seasons vary greatly and there is a marked periodi- 

 city in the alternating series of good and bad seasons 

 which reminds one of the periodicity characterizing the 

 occurrence in series of productive pearl fisheries. The 

 undue prolongation or intensity of the rainy season has 

 most prejudicial influence upon results ; the shallow 

 littoral waters where the beds lie (3 to 10 fathoms) 

 remain chill far into the fishing season, the river floods 

 cause discoloration of the sea particularly off the mouth 

 of the Tambraparni and the absence of bright sunshine 

 depresses the divers and renders them disinclined to 

 regular work and difficult to deal with. Rough weather, 

 provided the sun shines and the sea be warm, is less 

 prejudicial than would be expected. It is a standing 

 surprise to me to see in what rough seas the men will 

 work, often 5 to 7 miles from land, and still bring in 

 good catches, a fact proving the good qualities of the 

 fishing canoes used on this coast. Early morning calms 

 are much more prejudicial and cause much loss of time 



