16 
Superintendent of Pearl and Chank Fisheries. This 
change has enabled greater attention to be given, alike to 
general management and to the disposal of the produce 
to the best possible advantage. The results have been 
most gratifying for, in spite of difficulties due to a 
gradual decrease in the number of men available as 
divers and one season when the weather conditions were 
exceptionally adverse, the results of the four years of 
administration under the Fisheries Department have 
yielded a net profit to Government of Rs. 78,311-13-1, 
a higher aggregate than for any previous period of four 
consecutive years during the whole of the time Govern- 
ment have worked this fishery departmentally. The 
only comparable period is that of 1880-1884 when a total 
of Rs. 71,481-15-9 was obtained. During the latter 
period, however, lower rates were paid to the divers, so 
if rates were equalized the comparison would be still 
further to the credit of the present system. 
The factors against good results comprise head- 
winds, rough weather at sea, the cloudy condition of the 
sea, chilly water, morning calms which prevent the 
canoes from reaching the fishing grounds, the presence 
of sharks and of shoals of stinging jelly fishes and, most 
potent of all, the counter attraction of a pearl fishery. 
The seasons vary greatly and there is a marked periodi- 
city in the alternating series of good and bad seasons 
which reminds one of the periodicity characterizing the 
occurrence in series of productive pearl fisheries. The 
undue prolongation or intensity of the rainy season has 
most prejudicial influence upon results; the shallow 
littoral waters where the beds lie (3 to tro fathoms) 
remain chill far into the fishing season, the river floods 
cause discoloration of the sea particularly off the mouth 
of the Tambraparni and the absence of bright sunshine 
depresses the divers and renders them disinclined to 
regular work and difficult to deal with. Rough weather, 
provided the sun shines and the sea be warm, is less 
prejudicial than would be expected. It is a standing 
surprise to me to see in what rough seas the men will 
work, often 5 to 7 miles from land, and still bring in 
good catches, a fact proving the good qualities of the 
fishing canoes used on thiscoast. Early morning calms 
are much more prejudicial and cause much loss of time 
