83 



measure, over the culture gronnd. In the third year they are of a 

 size such that about 120 ^\ill fill a quart and are then exported to 

 China where they are in great demand, or they are kept another year 

 for home consumption ; the gradual growth of the shell-fish requires 

 a frequent redistribution so that they may get sufficient food, &nd this 

 is determined by experience. 



175. Razor-cIcoDi {SoIectiHus constricts). — The flesh of these is dried 

 and exported to China, the demand from which was so great, though 

 the trade only began in 1875, that over- fishing speedily resulted and 

 by 1883 deterioration in the sir.e and quantity of the fish was very 

 marked. Hence the Agricultural Department established an Aqui- 

 cultural Station at Ariake Bay where the shell was chiefly found, in 

 order to attempt its cultivation, with the result that by 1896 in one 

 part alone of that bay 700 acres were under cultivation, 50,000 

 bushels of such shell were collected for cultivation, and 112,8 15 bushels 

 sold for Rs. 1,20,000; the industry is said to be increasing. When 

 collected they are about an inch in length, but increase in three years 

 to about four inches. 



176. The culture of the two shell-fish just described is mentioned 

 (1) in view of the possibility of cultivating near Pamban the chank 

 which, a few years ago, produced very far more abundantly and, it is 

 believed, better shells, than at present ; the matter is eminently one 

 for an experimental station, the whole cost of which might be 

 defrayed from an increased chank revenue ; (2) as showing one 

 instance of the immediate practical utility of such stations especially 

 when founded for definite objects ; (8) as showing the ease with which 

 a particular product may be at once exhausted and deteriorated ; and 

 (4) as manifesting the rapid growth of a home industry, and of a 

 valuable and new trade in the vast market of China. 



177. The Pinna jiqionica is cultivated in only one village and is 

 interesting because it is carried on by the smallest of fisherfolkj 

 there are only 25 houses and each house has a little culture ground 

 not more than 50 by 30 feet ! It is an instance of what may be done 

 by poor folk even without scientific experiment or advice ; the culti- 

 vation is probably limited by the market. Similarly Prof. Mitsu- 

 kuri was led by his study of the life history of the trepang (becke de 

 mcr) the well-known holothnrian called Stichopus japonicus, to 

 propose particular measures for its protection and cultivation ; an 

 expert (Dr. Kishinouye) of the Fishery Department found during his 

 tours that at an out-of-the-way island the people for 100 years had 

 been in the habit of piling up loose stones in the shallow parts of the 

 sea (Prof. Mitsukuri's proposal apparently) and of thus cultivating 

 these holothurians. This product is found in the parts near Pdmban 

 (and elsewhere) and its cultivation, if successful, would provide the 

 fishermen with the means of immensely increasing the trade in an 



