WINDOW-PANE OYSTER INVESTIGATIONS. 137 



not very abundant. The average size of oysters in this area 

 in May, 1912, was 2-20 X 2-39 inches. 



Area J. — Oysters were found at only one station in this 

 area, just opposite the mouth of the Sembian-ar. They were 

 not very abundant and averaged 1 • 55 x 1*7 inch. This area 

 last year was one of the most prohfic, the oysters being almost 

 piled on top of one another and averaging 1 • 96 x 2*15 inches. 



Ai'ea K has three oyster-bearing stations, at which oysters 

 were fairly abundant, especially in the northern half of the 

 area. They averaged 1 • 816 X 1 " 987 inch, as against 2 • 57 X 

 2 • 79 inches last May. 



Area L. — This area is well stocked with oysters having an 

 average size of 1 ' 304 x 1 ' 45 inch, which does not compare 

 very favoxxrably with the average for May, 1912, of 2*14 x 

 2*28 inches. They are not so abundant as last year. 



Area M. — Young oysters were found close to the shore along 

 the entire boundary of the area, despite the fact that the 

 water in this part is very shallow and covers a sandbank 

 (Muttikallam). At one station 300 yards south-east of 

 Sallaimunai mark they were abundant. The average size for 

 the area was 1 • 664 X 1 " 774 inch, as against 2-55 x 2 • 85 inches 

 in May, 1912. Probably most of the oysters will die off 

 shortly, owing to the undoubtedly unsuitable conditions. 



Area O. — This area has young oysters in abundance almost 

 all over its surface. Their average size is 1'814 x 2*032 

 inches. 



Area P. — Oysters abundant in the southern half, but 

 practically absent from the northern haK of this area. They 

 compare unfavourably in size with the oysters in this area in 

 May, 1912, averaging only 1-591 X 1*737, against 2-46 x 

 2 • 27 inches last year. 



Area Q. — Oysters were taken at only one station in this 

 area, their average size being 1-383 X 1-516 inch. They 

 were fairly abundant. 



Area R. — This area is covered with oysters with the excep- 

 tion of the south corner, where the Sinna Palamput-ar opens 

 T ' 6(5)13 



