38 
(6) THE CEYLON FISHERY. 
To omit any account of the Ceylon chank fishery 
would be to leave the part of the Prince of Denmark out 
of Hamlet. It has the largest production at the present 
day and in former days was the object of much solicitude 
on the part of the Dutch and British rulers of Ceylon. 
To-day it still remains a source of revenue, but its 
value to Government has dwindled to small proportions 
and is represented by the produce of an export tax, 
bringing in some Rs. 5,000 to 6,000 per annum. 
- Up to 1890, the Ordinances Nos. 4 and 5 of 1842* 
regulated both the fishery for live chanks and the 
digging of dead (sub-fossil) chanks. Under these laws 
the divers were under obligation to take out licences for 
themselves and their boats, paying specified fees, while 
permits had to be obtained for the erection of stores for 
“dead” shells. In consequence of the various abuses 
which crept in, it was deemed advisable to repeal these 
regulations and a new Ordinance, No. 18 of 1890, was 
issued. Under this, all restrictions alike on diving and 
digging were removed and in lieu of the fees relinquished 
an export duty not to exceed one cent (2 pies) per shell 
was substituted. Export of chanks except through 
specified ports was prohibited. The use of dredges or 
related apparatus in the fishery was forbidden under 
pain of imprisonment or of fine while it was declared 
unlawful and punishable by six months’ imprisonment for 
any person to fish for or collect chanks, béche-de-mer, 
coral or shells anywhere ‘‘eastward of a straight line 
drawn from a point six miles westward of Talaimannar 
to a point six miles westward from the shore two miles 
south of Talaivilla.” The limits specified are so chosen 
as to include the whole of the long shallow bay wherein 
all the important pearl banks are situated. Thus the 
territorial waters of this part of the coast of Ceylon were 
constituted for the special object in view, as a Strip six 
miles in width outside of a line connecting the two horns 
of the Pearl Fishery Bay. Owing to the curvature of the 
shore the seaward limit in certain places is twenty miles 
from nearest land. This safeguard against interference 
——— 
* It is interesting to note that the former was entitled ‘* An Ordinance for the 
protection of Her Majesty’s rights in the digging for dead chanks,” and the 
latter ** An Ordinance for the protection of Her Majesty’s chank fishery.” 
