No. 3 (1917) TUTICORIN FISHING INDUSTRY 75 



From these particulars it is seen that this fishery, like that 

 for valai, is an all-year-round one ; the fishes concerned are 

 not migratory under ordinary circumstances and the fishery is 

 controlled in the main by weather conditions, being best in the light 

 wind seasons between the monsoons. The better one lasts from 

 the middle of August to the end of October ; it begins as the 

 strength of the south-west monsoon dies down in August and 

 continues till strong and steady north-east winds set in towards the 

 end of October. A second good fishing season occurs during the 

 calm weather period of March, April and May, but this favourable 

 weather is largely offset by the perfect clearness of the water — 

 always a serious drawback in bottom fishing. 



The fishes caught consist in the main of Kalawa (Sernmiis 

 iDiditlosus), Cheppili (Liitjamis annularis), Cheri (Sciaena miles), 

 Moonjan (Serrauus hexagouatiis), Thambuvan (Serranits polleni), 

 Tholan (Diagramma punctatum), Velamin (Lethriniis nehiilosiis), 

 Panna (OtoJithiis ruber), Karumuthal ( Chrysophrys herda), with 

 occasional rays and dogfishes. Generally the majority of the 

 round fish caught by offshore lining may be grouped as rockfishes 

 from their habit of frequenting rocky ground ; the three families 

 of Serranidae, Sciaenidae and Sparidae contribute the bulk of 

 these fishes. 



The bait used consists chiefly of small fishes, the most valued 

 being the Kola or Anchovy fEugrauUs dussumieri), Thondai 

 (Dnssnmieria aeuta), Chalai (Clupca atrieauda and Clupea sindensis), 

 Sudai ( Clupea Jimhriat a ), and pieces of Valai ( Chirocentriis dorab). 



The following table shows the contributions made respectively 

 by the nine most abundant rockfishes to the spoils of this method 

 of fishing : — 



