11 / 



a muddy creek, the> Vad, opposite Shams Pir Island, was selected and here 

 various lots of tile cultch were laid down from time to time, and the removal of 

 oysters from this creek was interdicted. 



41. No results of any value are recorded from these later experiments, 

 owing again, it is said, to the impossibility, for lack of watchers, of guarding 

 the growing oysters from the depredations of ths oyster-men. As I was 

 afforded an opportunity of visiting tho Vad creek, I shall defer further observa- 

 tions upon this culture experiment to the following section, where particulars 

 will be given of the condition in which I found the culfcch deposited in this place, 

 merely remarking that the extreme softness of the muddy bottom of this creek 

 makes it very unsuitable for culture experiments. 



IV. NARRATIVE OF THE INSPECTION"; PRESENT CONDITION 



OF THE BEDS. 



42. Karachi Backwater. After some preliminary enquiries, the inspec- 

 tion of the oyster beds was commenced by an examination of those situated in 

 Karachi backwater. Mr. G. W. Judd, Head Customs Preventive Officer, was 

 kindly permitted to act as my guide and this was the best selection possible 

 seeing that Mr. Judd is the officer who in 1891 drew the attention of the 

 authorities to the distressful condition of the oyster beds ; in the course of his 

 long connection with the Karachi Preventive Service he has had unrivalled 

 opportunities to become acquainted with the distribution of oyster beds on the 

 Sind Coast. 



43. Accordingly on 25th October 1009, piloted by Mr. Judd, I proceeded 

 from Keamari in the Customs' launch to explore the western section of the 

 Karachi backwater where alone edible oysters occur in beds. 



FiG. 1. 



SKETCH 



or 



KARACHI BACKWATER. 



BACKWATER 



Scale in Nautical miles. 



' / i 3 



1 j i i i 



: v.: = Oyster beds. 



