70 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



Names. 



Ribbon fish ... 



Barracuda 



Indian Herring 



Grey Mullet ... 



Pomfrets 



Hilsa ... ... 



(Diagramma) 



Trigger-fish ... 



Butter-fish 



Spotted Dory 



Bamin 



Dolphin 



Mackerel 



Sword-fish 



(Lobotes) 



Garfish 



Soles 



« 



The values of these fishes are calculated according to the rates 



given in the table on page 85 and are rather higher than the 



actual prices obtained on the beach. 



Vdlai fishery. — From the above it is seen at a glance that by far 



the most important fishery carried on from this centre is that of 



the Valai ( Chirocentrus dorab). This fish, the only species of its 



genus known in Indian waters, is caught in thin cotton drift nets 



having a mesh of 1 54 inch from knot to knot. So important is 



the fishery that this net, the one most largely employed here, is 



termed the vala valai or valai net. Each valai fishing boat carries 



a fleet of seven nets, each measuring 24 fathoms along the head 



rope with a depth of about 5 fathoms when set. The upper edge 



is buoyed with large wooden floats, the lower edge is weighted 



with small stones and sometimes partly with shells. The nets are 



never barked, as the fishermen allege that poor catches are made 



if they be barked. They believe that the brown tint which results 



makes the nets too readily visible to the fish. As the sea on the 



fishing grounds is generally very clear, this is probably an 



adequate reason. I am endeavouring to meet the difficulty by 



introducing a green preservative dip for the nets, but even on this 



the fishermen look askance and its utility has not yet been 



