BA? MONOMYARIA.—AVICULADZ. 
rendezvous for the boats employed in the fishery. 
The banks, where it is carried on, extend several 
miles along the coast from Manaar southward off 
Arippo, Condatchy and Pomparipoo. The princi- 
pal bank is opposite to Condatchy, and hes out at 
sea about twenty miles. After the survey of the 
state of the beds, and the consequent report to 
Government, the particular banks to be fished are 
put up for sale to the highest bidder, and are 
usually purchased by a black merchant. ‘The 
Government, however, sometimes judges it more 
advantageous to fish the banks on its own account, 
and to dispose of the pearls to the merchants. 
“The banks are divided into three or four dif- 
ferent portions, which are fished annually in suc- 
cession. These portions are distinct, and are set 
up separately to sale, each in the year in which it is 
to be fished. A sufficient interval is thus given to 
the oysters to attain their proper growth; and as 
the portion first used has generally recovered its 
maturity by the time the last portion has been 
fished, the fishery becomes almost regularly annual, 
and may thus be considered as yielding a yearly 
revenue. The oysters are supposed to attain their 
complete state of maturity in seven years. 
‘The fishing season commences in February, 
and ends about the beginning of April. The 
period allowed to the merchant to fish the banks 
1s six weeks, or two months at the utmost; but 
there are several interruptions which prevent the 
fishing days from exceeding more than about 
thirty. If it happen to be a very bad season, and 
many stormy days intervene during the period 
allotted, the purchaser of the fishery is often al- 
lowed a few days more.... 
