2 
Gujarat and Kathiawar, (4) the causes which made the 
chank fisheries so profitable in the early years of the 
nineteenth century, and (c) the question whether the use 
of chank bangles among a few sections of several castes 
in South India is in the nature of a survival of a once 
universal custom or whether it had primarily a totemistic 
significance. The origin of the custom of wearing 
broad chank bangles by the Buddhist women of Thibet 
and the Himalayas is another obscure point. 
At some future date I trust to be able to publish an 
account of the anatomy and life-habits of the chank, 
together with precise details of the many interesting 
local races or varieties which are found to characterise 
different localities in Indian littoral waters. 
To all who have rendered assistance I offer very 
grateful acknowledgment of many kindnesses received ; 
my office staff have in particular been most zealous in 
exploring all the bye-ways of chank-lore within the 
bounds of their opportunities and it gives me special 
pleasure in having this opportunity to express my thanks 
for their most valuable help—my Sub-Assistant, Mr. 
J. A. Fernandez, more especially has rendered noteworthy 
help in all that relates to the connection which has 
subsisted between the Parawa community and the chank 
industry from time immemorial. 
