134 CEYLON PEARL OYSTER REPORT. 



on the shores and reefs of the Gulf of Manaar, and the transport and distribution 

 could be effected easily by means of the steamer. 



8. In order to facilitate the search for new deposits of young oysters, " drift- 

 bottle " experiments should be made, so as to determine the prevalent currents in the 

 Gulf of Manaar, at the breeding times of the oysters. 



9. Very young "spat," such as is sometimes found in great abundance attached 

 to floating weeds, should be saved from being carried away by the currents, 

 and may be deposited on the bottom along with suitable cultch, to which it can adhere. 



10. That, in order to determine when and how the dredges should be used ; where 

 from and where to, and in what quantities, the transplantations of young oysters 

 should be made ; which mature oysters, if any, should be retained as a breeding 

 reserve ; where and how the " cultching" should be carried out, and similar matters, 

 a Marine Biologist should be appointed as a permanent official to take part in all 

 inspections and fisheries, to advise as to the farming operations, and carry out the 

 work when sanctioned, and generally to supervise the pearl-oyster banks and assist in 

 regulating the fisheries. 



11. That the Marine Biologist be charged, as his first duty, with the farming of 

 the pearl-oyster banks in such a manner as to aim at ensuring a more constant supply 

 of mature oysters. He should search at each inspection, and where possible during a 

 fishery, for new spat and for fresh beds of young oysters, should locate the oysters of 

 different ages, transplant them when necessary, thin them out when overcrowded, 

 remove young which would necessarily be killed during the fishing of the old, or 

 would prevent their neighbours' growth ; and thus he should endeavour to have all 

 the more reliable paars occupied by stocks, some in one and some in another stage of 

 growth, and to bring on a succession of adults ready for fishing. He should also see 

 to the cleaning of the banks by dredging and the removal of enemies of the pearl 

 oyster, should improve the bottom by laying down artificial cultch, and should 

 maintain adequate breeding reserves of adult oysters. He should advise in all cases 

 that the order of fishing of the beds be determined by practical biological considera- 

 tions, affecting not merely the interests of a particular fishery, but the future 

 prosperity of the industry. 



12. That during the time of the monsoons, when it would be impossible to work in 

 the Gulf of Manaar, the Marine Biologist should carry on his investigations at the 

 marine laboratory. There will be plenty to do in connection with the life and growth 

 of the pearl oyster, and the formation and abundance of pearls, to occupy his 

 attention even if he had no other work. 



But as secondary duties, when not fully occupied with pearl-oyster questions, I 

 would recommend that the Marine Biologist should be instructed to investigate the 

 " window-shell " oyster fishery at Tampalakam, the pearl oyster at Trincomalee and 

 elsewhere on the East Coast, the edible oyster at various localities, the trepang 

 fishery, chank diving, the possibility of establishing a commercial sponge fishery at 



