I84 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XI, 



6. The Tinnevelly Chank Fishery. --^\^^ total number of shells jjaid 

 for was 126,377 excluding 240 Idintakarai chanks which remain unsold as 

 compared with 163,527 in 1916-17. Quality was again most excellent 

 and these shells well maintain their reputation as the first in all round size 

 and quality yielded by any fishery in India and Ceylon. The drop in 

 yield was in great part due directly to the unfavourable nature of the 

 weather from the beginning of January till the middle of March ; the 

 adverse factor was unusually strong and chilly winds, which rendered 

 regular work difficult and unpleasant. Had it not been that the weather 

 during November and December (191 7) was milder than usual, the result 

 would have been disastrous. In some as yet not understood way the 

 weather conditions also affected adversely the worms which constitute the 

 food of the chank, causing a scarcity on many of the beds. This in turn 

 resulted in the scattering of the chanks in search of food instead of the 

 usual concentration wherever the worms abound. 



The men had poor earnings over the season as a whole, and this has 

 had a very discouraging effect upon their morale. Every step was taken 

 by means of towage and camping facilities, payment of batta on days of 

 very small catches, and the like, to hearten them and induce them to 

 preserve. The number of divers employed was rather better than in the 

 preceding year at the commencement, but the poor earnings in February 

 and March caused a serious diminution which in turn adversely affected 

 the catches. For the greater part of the time six crews only worked 



regularly. 



Recruitment.— Four Arab divers were recruited in Ceylon ; one died of 

 acute diarrhoea a few weeks after arrival and of the remaining three, two 

 were so discouraged with their poor earnings that they requested permis- 

 sion to transfer to Rameswaram, which was allowed. 



7. The Ramnad Chank Fishery. — The good results here compensated 

 amply for the poor harvest of the Tinnevelly beds. The total of full-sized 

 shells fished at the various centres last year and in the preceding year 

 were as follows : — 



8 Work in the Vedalai and Rameswaram sections was particularly 

 remunerative and demonstrated once more how the divers working in 



