414 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



Tinnevelly side the Dutch fisheries were also incessant, 

 almost annual. After the English occupation of Tuticorin 

 there was a fishery in 1822, which yielded a profit of 

 .13,000 to the Indian revenue. Another in 1830 netted 



lO,000. 



The pearl oyster appears inclined to bid farewell to the 

 shores of Tinnevelly for ever, and various reasons are being 

 alleged as to the cause of its gradual but sure disappear- 

 ance. We do not pretend to be able to solve the problem, 

 but it is well known that fish cannot live in water beyond a 

 certain density, or be exposed to a pressure of more than 

 three atmospheres, and it is also known that marine animals 

 derive from the water the solid matter which forms their 

 shells. Now, the disgusting filth which the returning tide 

 carries twice in the 24 hours from the beach at Tuticorin, 

 to say nothing of the contribution from the shipping, is 

 sufficient to contaminate the water to such an extent that 

 mollusca less delicate than the pearl oyster might, without 

 exaggeration, be supposed to flee the polluted waters. 



Between 1830 and 1856 there were 13 examinations of 

 the banks, and on each occasion it was found that there 

 was not a sufficient number of grown oysters to yield a 

 profitable fishery, and none was attempted again until 1860. 

 In that year the sale of the Government share of oysters 

 by public auction began at 1 5 rupees, and gradually rose to 

 40 rupees (4) per 1000. As many as 15,874,500 shells 

 were sold, realizing upwards of 20,000 as the net result to 

 Government, exclusive of all expenses and of the shares 

 allowed to the divers. In 1861 the results of the fishery 

 were equally satisfactory. The price began at 7 to 8 

 per 1000 shells, and afterwards sank to 4, 3, and 34$-. 

 In 1862 the banks were found to be in a most unpromising 

 state, and no fishery was attempted till 1874. 



