No. 3 (1917) 



TUTICORIN FISHING INDUSTRY 



71 



sufficiently proved to persuade them to adopt it. Being unbarked 

 the nets have a short life, not extending beyond a single year. 



The boats used are converted dug-out canoes ; the sides are 

 first " spread " or forced outwards by an ingenious but tedious 

 method of wedging, then ribs of naturally grown curve are bolted 

 on and a deep weather board added along each gunwale. The 

 length of valai boats ranges from 28 to 30 feet. A single mast 

 with a broad low lug-sail is carried and with a strong favouring 

 breeze they can make 5 to 6 knots through the water. Their great 

 defect is the lack of a keel ; being smooth bottomed they have no 

 grip on the water and make far too much leeway wlien beating 

 against the wind. The one remedy would be to fit them with a 

 centre board or drop keel or better still to instal a small motor and 

 so render them independent of sails. 



^"V 



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Fig. I. — Valai (Chirocenirus dorab). X r- 



They carry 5 to 6 men of a crew, this large number being 

 necessitated by the frequent need to propel the boat by oars when 

 the wind is adverse or a calm prevails. Fitted with a motor, a 

 crew of 4 men would be ample, while some increase in the size of 

 the boat would be possible, and this in turn would make the boat 

 more profitable, as it would enable a very considerable increase in 

 the quantity and length of nets carried. The valai is a fish highly 

 esteemed by the Indian public and a great increase in the supply 

 would readily be absorbed by the market at remunerative rates. 

 On the east coast it occupies the place that the herring does in 

 England — a tasty morsel within the reach of the purse of the great 

 mass of the people. Hence I propose to devote special attention 

 in future to the development of this industry and particularly to 

 the improvement of the nets and boats used; the life history of the 

 fish, whereof we know little, is also receiving attention. 



Unlike the French sardine and the oil-sardine of Malabar 

 (Clupca lougiccps), the valai does not harass the fishing industry 

 by failing to appear in due season in certain years. There is 



