Coral and the Coral Fisheries. 461 



The Indian trade in coral in 1875 shows a very slight 

 decrease on that of 1873-74, when it amounted to 66,689 5 

 but it is slowly recovering from the depression of previous 

 years, that depression having, it is believed, been partly 

 caused by the imposition of a duty of "j\ per cent, in April, 

 1870. The value of the imports was as follows : 



1868-69 ... ... ... ... .93,126 



1869-70 ... ... ... ... 65,285 



1870-71 ... ... 45,441 



1871-72 ... ... 54,894 



1872-73 ... ... 40,013 



1873-74 - 66,689 



1874-75 . 53,558 



Though the imposition of the duty probably had an 

 immediate effect in reducing the importations, it must be 

 remarked that the trade is of a variable and fluctuating 

 nature. It is mainly in the hands of a few foreign firms, 

 from whom natives purchase the coral for sale in the 

 interior at great fairs and religious gatherings. Coral forms 



