So 



MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN 



VOL XI, 



had such a deterrent effect that no Sinhalese fishermen came that 

 season and, once broken, the custom has not been resumed. 



As trolling provides the bulk of the fish (seer) most esteemed 

 by Europeans and as the market price in consequence is better 

 than for any other fish, there was distinct inducement to the local 

 fishermen to supply the want caused by the defection of the 

 Sinhalese men. For the first year little progress was made, and 

 the catch for the year October 1912 to September 1913 fell by 

 50 per cent compared with the preceding year's catch (11,835 lb. 

 as against 24,438 lb.). But a year's experience revealed to the 

 local men, that, contrary to their own belief, no special virtue is 

 inherent to the Sinhalese outrigger as against their own boats ; 

 the latter sail quite fast enough with a good wind to make trolling 

 for seer a success. The success of the pioneer boats was so 

 obvious that the number engaged in this branch of fishing rapidly 

 increased and if Sinhalese fishermen ever come again to Tuticorin, 

 they will find themselves supplanted, and with strong competition 

 to face. 



The following table shows the quantity and value of fish 

 obtained by this method during a four years' period, viz. : — 



Near. 



October 191 1 to September 1912 

 October 1912 to September 191 3 

 October 1913 to September 1914 

 October 191 4 to September 191 5 



Averacre annual total. 



To show how the catches are distributed throughout the different 

 months, the following tabulation has been prepared : — 



Average monthly weight of fish obtained by Trolling based 

 upon the four years' statistics, 1911 — 1915. 



