1903.] on the Pearl Fisheries of Ceylon. 287 



found Balistes with its Cestode parasite both at Trincomalie and at 

 Galle, and the sharks also occur all round the island, so that there 

 can be no question as to the probable infection of oysters grown at 

 these or any other suitable localities. 



There is still, however, much to find out in re2;ard to all these 

 points, and other details affecting the life of the oyster and the 

 pro8i)erity of the pearl fisheries. Mr. Hornell and I are still in the 

 middle of our investigations, and this must be regarded as only a 

 preliminary statement of results which may have to bo corrected, 

 and I hope will be considerably extended in our final report. 



It is interesting to note that the ' Ceylon Government Gazette ' 

 of December 22 last, announced a pearl fishery, to commence on 

 February 22, during which the following banks would be fished : — 



The South-East Cheval Paar, estimated to have 49 million oysters. 



The East Cheval Paar, with 11 millions. 



The North-East Cheval Paar, with 13 millions. 



The Periya Paar Kerrai, with 8 million — making in all over 

 80 million oysters. 



That fishery is now in progress, Mr. Hornell is attending it, and 

 we hope that it may result not merely in a large revenue from pearls 

 but also in considerable additions to our scientific knowledge of the 

 oysters. 



As an incident of our work in Ceylon, it was found necessary to 

 fit up the scientific man's workshop — a small laboratory on the edge 

 of the sea, with experimental tanks, a circulation of sea-water and 

 facilities for microscopic and other work. For several reasons, as 

 was mentioned above, we chose Galle at the southern end of Ceylon, 

 and we have every reason to be satisfied with the choice. "With its 

 large bay, its rich fauna and the sheltered collecting ground of the 

 lagoon within the coral reef, it is probably one of the best possible 

 spots for the naturalist's work in Eastern tropical seas. 



In the interests of science it is to be hoped, then, that the Marine 

 Laboratory at (lalle will soon be established on a permanent basis 

 with a suitable equipment. It ought, moreover, to be of sufficient 

 size to accommodate two or three additional zoologists, such as 

 members of the Staff of the Musenm and of the Medical College at 

 Colombo, or scientific visitors from Europe. The work of such men 

 would help in the investigation of the marine fauna and in the 

 elucidation of practical problems, and the laboratory would soon 

 become a credit and an attraction to the Colony. Such an insti- 

 tution at Galle would be known throughout the scientific world, and 

 would be visited by many students of science, and it might reasonably 

 be hoped that in time it would perform for the marine biology and 

 the fishing industries of Ceylon very much the same important 

 functions as those fulfilled by the celebrated Gardens and Laboratory 

 at Peradeniya for the botany and associated economic problems of 

 the land. 



[W. A. H.] 



