8; 



the shells from each locality are kept and sold sepa- 

 rate durinof the first series of wholesale transactions. 

 Among the wholesalers at least eleven varieties and 

 qualities are recognized. They may be summarized as 

 under : — 



1. Tiitikkuddi. — Shells obtained from the Madras 

 Government fishery off the coast of Tinnevelly. These 

 form the finest and most valued quality from which the 

 choicest bracelets are manufactured. They are marked 

 by a well-balanced and elegant form, neither squat (as in 

 the Negapatam or Tanjore type) nor greatly elongate 

 (sub-fusiform) as in shells from the Andamans. The 

 reoular and oradual increase in the size of the whorls 

 enables this form of shell to be cut to the greatest advant- 

 aoe, and gives a maximum number of sections. The 

 shell is of a perfect opalescent whiteness and of great hard- 

 ness and evenness of texture, which render it susceptible 

 of a high polish. 



In seasons previous to 1909-10, when the Calcutta 

 buying combine were able to buy these shells practically 

 at their own price, they were disposed of wholesale by 

 these men at from Rs. 35 to Rs. 38 per bag of 250 shells 

 or Rs. 140 to Rs. 152 per 1,000, on credit terms, 



2. Ramessari.- — These are the shells fished off Kila- 

 karai and the island of Ramesvaram under license from 

 the Ramnad zamindari. The quality approaches that of 

 Tuticorin very closely but is esteemed slightly inferior, 

 and fetches about Re. i to Rs. 2 less per 100, not so much 

 in respect of the quality of the individual shell as because 

 of the larger number ofsmaller grade shells present, due 

 to lack of fishery regulations designed to safeguard the 

 immature. Good selections however will at times fetch 

 prices equal to those of Tuticorin shells and by one of 

 the tricks of the trade, these shells appear to be lumped 

 frequently with Tuticorin shells as of equal quality in 

 sales made to the bracelet cutters in outlying villages, as 

 these men appear not to know of the existence of this 

 grade and of the slight difference in quality between it 

 and that of Tuticorin. 



3. Jammaipatti. — An inferior quality of Ramnad 

 shell fished off the mainland to the north of Mandapam — 

 thence to Tondi. An inferior shell, small and of poor 

 quality, price about Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 per 1,000. 



