208 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 



from their experts, but scientists who are interested in the problem 

 are in absolute ignorance of what transpired during that period, 

 except for scattered references in Southwell's reports. In attacking 

 a series of problems such as the Ceylon pearl fisheries present, it is 

 absolutely essential that the large mass of data collected should be 

 put on record, irrespective of whether they may appear to have any 

 bearing upon the main problem at the time. For this reason it 

 is regrettable that information concerning the scientific operations 

 conducted during the first part of the Company's tenure should not 

 be available for those who will now be called upon to continue the 

 work , and there is not much consolation to be gained from Mr. South- 

 well's statement that the investigations recorded in the Cbylon 

 Marine Biological Reports "represent a mere fraction of the work 

 done by the Company." There is another cause for regret, in 

 that these blank years synchronized with the time when the banks 

 became barren. It would be interestmg to know what occurred 

 during this critical period. Did the Company realize what would 

 probably happen, and did they take all possible precautions ? 

 Were breeding reserves established in the fishery of 1907, and were 

 any oysters that were left over carefully preserved ? On these points 

 no information is forthcoming. Professor Herdman emphasized 

 the danger of overfishing. Did the Company accept this view ? 

 We are anxious to know what relation, if any, exists between the 

 practice of overfishing and the periodic failure of the pearl fishery. 

 To the solution of this problem the years 1906-1908 offer no 

 contribution. 



The results of the Southwell-Kerkham regime are naturally of a 

 somewhat meagre nature, since these gentlemen were in the unfortu- 

 nate position of having to take charge of the operations during a 

 period when the banks were barren. The most noteworthy results 

 of their term of office were Southwell's work on the pearl-inducing 

 worm, the current investigations prosecuted by Southwell and 

 Kerkham by means of drift bottles, the compilation of a new chart 

 of the banks, and the inauguration of a new system of inspection 

 by Kerkham. The researches on the pearl -inducing worm and the 

 current investigations will be referred to later. Not the least 

 important of the benefits which accrue to Government are the new 

 method of inspection and the chart of the banks , for which Captain 

 Kerkham is responsible. A discussion of these achievements is 

 beyond the scope of the present paper, but since a very important 

 part of the annual survey is dependent upon an efficient system of 

 inspection, and none the less upon*a reliable chart of the banks. 

 Captain Kerkham's work in these matters cannot be dismissed 

 without a word of appreciation. 



Those whose lot it will be to continue the scientific work com- 

 menced ten 3'ears ago are under heavy obligations to Professor 

 Herdman and the other biologists who have hitherto been concerned 



