336 An Azcount of the Peart Fifbery at Ceylom 
the privilege of fifhing with more than the ufual number of 
donies or boats, paid between two and three hundred thou 
fand Porto-novo pagodas ; a fum nearly double the ufual rent: 
Thefe boats he farmed out again to individuals in the beft 
manner he could, but for want of a fufficient number of 
divers fome of them could not be employed. 
The fifhing, which commonly began about the middle of 
February, if wind and weather allowed, was this year, for 
various reafons, delayed till the end of the month; yet, fo 
favourable was the weather, that the renter was able to take. 
advantage of the permiffion granted by the agreement, to fith 
a little longer than the ufual period of thirty days. 
The fifhery cannot well be continued after the fetting-in 
of the fouthern monfoon, which ufually happens about the 
r5th of April, as, after that time, the boats would not be 
able to reach the pearl banks, and the water being then fo 
troubled by heavy feas, diving would be impraticable; in 
addition to which, the fea-weed, a {pecies of fucus, driven 
in. by the foutherly wind, and which fpreads to a confidera- 
ble diftance from the fhore, would be an impediment. 
Many of the divers, being Roman Catholics, leave the 
fifhery on Sundays to attend divine fervice in their church at 
Aripoo; but if either a Mahomedan or Hindoo feftival hap« 
pens during the fifhing days, or if it is interrupted by ftormy 
weather, or any Aine accident, this loft time 1s made up by 
obliging the Catholics to work on Sundays. 
The fie of fharks, as we. {hall feé hereafter, is-alfo ans. 
other caufe of interruption. Thefe, amongft fome others, 
are the reafons that, out of two months, (from February till 3 
~ April,) feldom more than thirty days can be employed in- the 
fifhery. 
As this time would be infufficient to fifly all the banks, 
(each of which has its appropriate name, both in Dutch and 
Tamul,) it is carried on for three or four fucceilive years, 
-and a new contract: annually made, till the whole banks have 
been fifhed; after which they are left to recover. 
The length of time required for this purpofe, or from one 
general fifhing te another, has not yet been exactly deter-_ 
mined ; it was therefore a practice to depute fome perfons to 
; ib q 4 
