136 SPOI.TA ZEYLANTCA. 



4 • 983 inches. A single young oyster measuring 1 • 125 X 1 ' 25 

 inch was taken about 200 yards south of the nursery. 



Area B. — -The oysters in this area are • confined to the 

 southern part near Kodaipota. They are all young, and 

 average 1 • 912 x 2 • 125 inches. 



Area C. — Oysters are scarce in this area and are only found 

 in the south-west half, the remainder apparently being 

 unsuitable for Placuna. The average size was 1 • 784 X 

 2 • 095 inches, against an average of 1 • 59 X 1 * 69 inch in May, 

 1912. 



Area D. — Young oysters were found at only one station in 

 this area, at its southern corner. They averaged 1 • 787 X 

 2 • 25 inches. 



Area E. — This area contains part of the only remnant of the 

 large bed of oysters which was present last year and which 

 was decimated by the rains in January. These oysters and 

 those in the north end of Nachchikuda are the only survivors. 

 There are apparently no young oysters mixed with these 

 second-year oysters, and I have noticed that new broods of 

 oysters do not seem to settle among one- or two-year-olds, to 

 any great extent, although the limits of their respective beds 

 may overlap a little. The average size of the second-year 

 oysters in the area is 5 • 202 X 5 • 482 inches, and they were 

 abundant. 



Area F. — Last year's oysters were found at two stations in 

 this area also, at one of which, 200 yards south-east of the 

 estuary of the Manal-ar, they were very abundant. Their 

 average size for the area was 5*231 X 5*537 inches. At 

 another station young oysters were found with an average 

 size of 1 * 555 X 1 * 65 inch, but they were scarce. 



Area G. — Second-year oysters were found abundantly at 

 two stations in this area, and young oysters averaging 1 * 949 X 

 2*2 inches at two other stations. In May, 1912, the oysters 

 in this area averaged 2* 16 X 2*32 inches, and were probably 

 of the same age as the present young ones. 



Area H. — This area is almost entirely covered with young 

 oysters averaging 1*936 X 2* 209 inches. They are, however, 



