8o 



may be estimated to average 22 lakbs per annum divided 



as to origin thus: — Shells. 



Ceylon ... ... ... ... ... 1,650,000 



Tuticotin .. ... ... 250,000 



Rameswaram ... ... ... .. 250,000 



Other sources ... ... ... ... 50,000 



Total ... 2,200,000 



The actual Ceylon production is larger, amounting 

 in normal years to not less than 20 lakhs, but a consider- 

 able proportion is not exported being too small in size 

 or too inferior in quality to be of use for bracelet 

 manufacture. In years when a pearl fishery is held in 

 the Gulf of Mannar, the production of chank shells 

 usually decreases considerably (from 25 to 2)3 per cent.) 

 while in favourable seasons with no counter attraction of 

 a pearl fishery to divert the attention of the diving popu- 

 lation, the annual yield may go well beyond the average 

 given. In 1902 an exceptionally large export took place, 

 as many as 2,410,429 shells being shipped. No pearl 

 fishery occurred in this year and it may be that aj3ortion 

 of the total was fished in the year preceding. 



The Tuticorin and Ramnad shells althoueh toofether 

 they amount only to 4 to 5 lakhs annually — roughly 

 one-fifth to one- quarter of the total Bengal consump- 

 tion — have an importance much beyond what we should 

 infer from their numerical ratio. They are the elite of their 

 kind on account of the purity of their colour and of the 

 high vitreous polish they are susceptible of; for these 

 reasons they are necessary for all work of the best 

 quality — all ornamental bracelets must be made from 

 these shells. Jaft'na or Ceylon shells on the average 

 serve only for second and other yet inferior qualities of 

 work. Hence while the cutters will give Rs. 160 per 

 1,000 for Tuticorin and Ramnad shells, those from 

 Ceylon range between the limits of Rs. 30 and Rs. 100 

 per 1,000, the bulk inclining to the lower price rather 

 than to the higher. 



The first circle in the distributing wholesale trade for 

 many years past has been in the hands of a ring of 

 merchant middlemen who have successfully maintained 

 until now a strict monopoly of the Calcutta import trade. 

 The principal men in this combine hail from Dacca, 



