No. 1 (1917) KDIBLE MOLLUSCS 4I 



size, the price varying from two to eight annas per 100; a common 

 price is one pie (one-twelfth anna^ for large bones and two or 

 three per pie for small ones. A regular price cannot be said to 

 exist; rates vary with the needs of the seller and of the purchaser. 



On the south coast of Rameswaram and other islands near 

 Pamban, cuttle bones come ashore during the south-west monsoon 

 but not nearly so plentifully — only about one-tenth the quantity— as 

 they do on the north coast of Rameswaram during the north-east 

 monsoon. In a single season the collection of cuttle bones from 

 Rameswaram Island alone amounts to from 10 to 14 cwt., a quantity 

 representing a very large number of bones. The total Indian 

 export amounts to a considerably larger quantity. Several fishing 

 villages on the mainland, such as Morepanai near Uppur, report an 

 annual collection of 20 to 50 bags each per annum. A consider- 

 able quantity is also obtained from the Travancore and Malabar 

 coasts; most of this is exported through Tuticorin. From Kila- 

 karai 14^ cwt. were shipped to Colombo during 1914-15. 



A considerable demand exists in Europe for cuttle bone, especi- 

 ally for large sizes. From information received from a London 

 dealer in this product, it is readily saleable there at £2-16-0 per 

 cwt. delivered c.i.f. in London, in the case of large selected bones 

 (8 to 12 inches long and above) and £1-8-0 per cwt. for bones of 

 mixed sizes from 12 inches down to small pieces of about 2 to 3 

 inches, with at least half the bulk between 6 and 12 inches long. 

 Care should be taken to ensure the bone being perfectly dry when 

 packed, in order to prevent mould appearing. 



Palk Bay fishermen cherish the belief that cuttlefish cast their 

 bones annually at the season when they are thrown ashore in great 

 quantity. Strangely enough no shoals of cuttlefish are ever caught 

 in nets— only stray individuals ; that large shoals do abound is 

 evident, for it occasionally happens after a severe storm that very 

 great numbers are thrown up on the beach, dead but quite fresh. 

 The village women collect them, cure them in the sun and take to 

 market where they generally find a ready sale. 



The small Devilfish (Octopus sp.). 



Tamil— Sa Kanavai {•^/r sessratfruj)^ Rameswaram Island ; Pcy Kana- 

 vai {Quiu ssssrsuinij) and Sanou Kamroni (^ey^ <%^ssrajrr\u)^ 

 west coast of Palk Bay. 

 This is a small species caught solely for use as bait. It swarms 



in the weedy shallows of Palk Bay. It is in keen demand by line 

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