36 



gone by this fishery probably was counted in with the 

 Tanjore fishery or worked separately according as the 

 northern boundary of the Tanjore kingdom waxed or 

 waned. With the declension of the Tanjore fishery 

 proper, the more northern section was neglected and it 

 was left to the Madras Fisheries Department in 1910 to 

 begin the process of revival. Pending means to inspect 

 and assess accurately the actual potentiality of the chank 

 beds lying off the coast of this district, it was considered 

 advisable to lease the fishery. Accordingly tenders 

 were called for and although the highest bid amounted 

 to the trivial amount of Rs. 235 for the period from ist 

 January 191 1 to 31st March 191 2, it was decided to 

 accept this tender, as a tentative measure. On the 

 expiry of the lease fresh tenders were called for and a 

 healthy competition for the lease resulted in its renewal 

 for three years at a substantial advance, Rs. 516-10-8 

 per annum being given for the privilege of working this 

 royalty. 



The system adopted by the renter is to appoint 

 agents in the various fishing villages, who buy the shells 

 from the fishermen at such rates as they can arrange, 

 varying, I believe, according to the size, and forward 

 them from time to time to the lessee's head-quarters at 

 Cuddaiore. The proximity of the French territory of 

 Pondicherry is conducive to smuggling and it is alleged 

 that quantities of shells fished in British waters are 

 clandestinely taken to Pondicherry, where probably 

 slightly higher prices for chanks may rule than in the 

 British coastal villages. 



The quality of the shells fished on this coast is the 

 same as that of those from Tanjore. 



(4) THE TRAVANCORE FISHERY. 



This fishery is carried on in the same way as 

 that of Ceylon, an export duty being the means taken 

 by Government to collect the revenue due on this 

 industry. Any one may engage in it without payment 

 of any special dues other than this export tax. The 

 fishery appears to be a petty one producing not more than 

 100 bags of shells per annum. The fishing season runs 

 from December till April. A few particulars gleaned 

 when in Bengal are given elsewhere (p. 89). The 

 shells as fished are purchased from the divers by petty 



