PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PEARL BANKS. 



41 



diseased that if not fished within the next 4 months I shall expect to find the bank 

 cleared of this generation in March, 1906. The age is the same as of those on the 

 North Modragam." 



The only other bank where, from our previous observations, there was the remotest 

 possibility of finding fishable oysters is the Muttuvaratu Paar, lying off Dutch Bay 

 (see Map, Mu., fig. 15). Three days were devoted to the inspection of this, with the 



Fig. 15. Sketch-map showing the principal pearl-oyster banks in the Gulf of Manaar. C., Chilaw Paar; 

 Ch., Cheval Paar; K., Dutch Modragam and Karativo paaru; M., Modragam P.iars ; Mu., 

 Muttuvaratu Paar ; P., Periya Paar ; P.K., Periya Paar Kerrai. 



result that Mr. HORNELL estimates the number of oysters thereon, aged from 2 to 

 5^ years, to be about 20,000,000. " All are stunted in outward appearance, the 

 shells both small and unhealthy, covered and distorted in many cases with a parasitic 

 growth of coral, while the substance is riddled and tunnelled by boring sponges, 

 molluscs, and worms. The soft parts are in like condition, miserably thin and sickly, 

 and many are obviously diseased." It is therefore not surprising to find that the 

 sample of 10,000 average individuals which was collected by the divers on November 

 llth yielded only a very small quantity of pearls, valued at Rs. 3.16i per 1000 

 oysters. 



The valuation of the same bank of oysters in the previous November (1903) gave 

 Rs. 1.50 per 1000, so, as the value has more than doubled in the twelve months, 

 there is the possibility that a remnant might provide a small fishery in 1906 if 

 oysters be then scarce elsewhere. The only remaining bank inspected was the 



G 



