REPORT 



TO THE (iOVKUNMENT OF BARODA 



ON THE PROSPECTS OF 



ESTABLISHING A PEARL FISHERY 



AND OTHER MARINE INDUSTRIES ON THE 

 COAST OF OKHAMANDAL, 



BY 



JAMES HORNELL, F.L.S., 



Bureau of Fisheries, Madras, and formerly Marine Biologist to the 



Government of Ceylon. 



BY arrangement with the Ceylon authorities my services were lent to the 

 Government of Baroda at the end of 1905 for the purpose of investigating the economic 

 marine resources of the coast of Okhamandal, an outlying portion of His Highness 

 the Gaek war's possessions, forming the north-west extremity of the peninsula of 

 Kattiawar. Pearl oysters had been noted in small numbers along the coast-line, and 

 my attention was to be directed specially to an examination of the possibilities of 

 developing a remunerative pearl fishery. 



Leaving Ceylon on 30th November, 1 905, I reached Dvvarka, the chief port of 

 Okhamandal. six days later. By the courtesy of the authorities. His Highness's steam 

 launch "Pari" had been sent round to Dvvarka, and \vns awaiting my arrival, while the 

 Vahivatdar, the principal revenue officer of Okhamandal, Mr. Kashinath B. Pradhan, 

 with the assistance of Mr. Sunderlal, the Executive Engineer, had all arrangements 

 perfected for the immediate commencement of the investigation. Without the 

 abounding energy and intimate local knowledge possessed by Mr. Pradhan, and the 

 professional skill of Mr. Sunderlal, the comparatively short time at my disposal 

 would have proved inadequate to that extensive and minute examination of the 

 littoral waters necessary before I could formulate conclusions sound and of real economic 

 value. 



B 



