84 MADRAS -FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XI, 



Minof fishivg methods. — The foregoing methods are the only 

 ones of importance employed at Tuticorin, the others practised 

 being of minor economic value. The chief of these latter are the 

 Pachu valai, the Vangu valai and the Kalla valai. 



The first named is a small drift net of mesh l^ inch 

 from knot to knot, employed in catching Puvali ( Pellona clongata)' 

 Kurumin ( Pristipoma maciilatum), Karal (Eqiinla spp. and Gazza 

 spp.), Sudai (Clupea fimbriata), Chalai (Cliipea atricauda and Clupea 

 sindensis), and Venganai (Pellona indica). The season runs from 

 February to April. The catch in 1914 15 amounted to 4,771 lb. 

 of a value of Rs. 374. 



The Vangu valai is of greater importance as the inshore liners 

 depend upon the produce of this net for their bait. It is a small 

 hand seine worked by two men in lagoons and in the shallows of 

 the harbour. Its chief catch consists of prawns (Penaeids) and 

 fish fry. In regard to the latter it is most destructive and some 

 restriction upon its employment will probably be necessary when 

 the time be ripe for the introduction of regulative fishery measures. 



The average annual catch of prawns and fish fry is estimated to 

 be over 35,000 lb. having a value of Rs. 2,500. Were the catch to 

 consist wholly of prawns the value would be considerably greater, 

 as the line fishermen willingly give l^ anna per pound for 

 them as bait ; fish fry sell at much less than this rate — from six 

 to nine pies per lb. only — thereby reducing the average to about 

 eight pies per lb. 



The Kalla valai or " thief net," is a net used by four men in 

 breast-high water. It is held upright by two men as a semicircular 

 wall against which the fish are driven by the other two men, the 

 two ends being brought together quickly at the same time. Mullet 

 are caught in some quantity by this method which produced in 

 1914-15 a weight of 8,403 lb. of fish, valued at Rs. 739. 



Fish bought at sea. — In addition to the fish caught by boats 

 working from Tuticorin as their headquarters, a considerable quan- 

 tity is bought at sea by boats which go out specially to purchase 

 fish from fishermen working from Pinnacoil and other neighbouring 

 villages. 



During the four years 1911 — ^15, an annual average of 42,419 lb. 

 of fish was brought into Tuticorin by these carriers, the value 

 being estimated at Rs. 2,644. 



