t2 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XI, 



The most extensive oyster beds in South India are those in 

 Cochin harbour and in Vembanad backwater in Travancore. In 

 both localities oysters are exceedingly numerous, the flesh finding 

 a ready sale among the lower classes. In the Vembanad villages, 

 the flesh, called Moringa irachi, is said to be regularly exposed for 

 sale in the fish market. In Cochin it is not seen in the markets, 

 being hawked about the streets in small-mouthed chatties. The 

 beds in Cochin harbour chiefly lie within what are claimed to be 

 Cochin State limits and the right to fish oysters is let annually by 

 the Darbar for a small sum, seldom if ever exceeding Rs. lOO per 

 annum. In practice, the lessee sublets the right to individual divers 

 who pay him a small sum for each day's fishing. The divers are 

 usually Roman Catholic Christians. As the water over the beds 

 varies from one to three fathoms the men require to dive for the 

 oysters ; when the current is strong the assistance of a pole thrust 

 into the bottom is resorted to, the diver using this to prevent himself 

 being carried away. As the oyster clumps are collected they are 

 piled into a small attendant dug-out canoe and as soon as this is 

 full, a matter of some three hours' work, the spoil is taken to the 

 shore where women purchase it at the rate of from 10 annas to I 

 rupee per lot — a quantity usually averaging about 8oo, or a rate of 

 l^ to 2 annas per hundred. The buyers proceed to open them, 

 putting the flesh into an earthen pot containing a little water. 

 This flesh they hawk through the town at from 2 to 4 annas the 

 hundred. Surplus oysters are sometimes kept alive in the canals 

 till wanted — an extremely insanitary proceeding. 



Oyster flesh is never eaten uncooked by Indians ; the common 

 method of preparation on this coast is to fry the flesh in ghee after 

 flavouring with salt and condiments. The trade is of considerable 

 volvmie in Cochin in spite of the fact that many of the largest beds 

 are subject to sewage contamination. The fact that the flesh is 

 never eaten except after cooking appears to be an effective safe- 

 guard. It is noteworthy that the discarded oyster shells, in the 

 absence of any local rock, are put to extensive use in reclaiming 

 swamp land and as foundations for buildings. 



In the Beypore, Elattur and Tellicherry backwaters, oysters 

 abound wherever rocks occur and good quantities are taken 

 annually by the womenfolk of the local Hindu fishing communities, 

 who collect oyster flesh at low tide, breaking open the shells with 

 short iron knives as they occur /;/ situ and transferring the flesh to 

 small chatties which they take with them. 



