Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 193 



locality. The banks are situated off the north-west 

 coast of the island, at a distance of about eight or 

 ten miles from the shore. According to Vincent, 

 the different powers — Kandyan, Portuguese, Dutch, 

 or English — who have presided over the fishery at 

 different times, always took up their abode at 

 Tutacorin, on the Indian coast, but carried on the 

 fishery on the Ceylon side of the Straits of Manaar, at 

 Chilao, Seewel, Condatchey, etc. From fifty to sixty 

 thousand persons would assemble to take part in 

 the fishery — merchants, tradesmen, divers, mariners, 

 etc. The sovereign of the coast, the Naygue of 

 Madura, received the result of one day's fishing ; 

 the wife of the governor of Manaar (under the 

 Portuguese), the proceeds of another day's fishing, 

 afterwards given to the Jesuits, and the owner of 

 the fishing vessel received one draught every fishing 

 day. When the fishing was ended the fair was held 

 at Tutacorin. The brokerage and duty amounted 

 to 4 per cent, paid by the seller. 



From 1820 to 1827 there was no fishing, and 

 in 1834 it was again a blank. The fishery of 1837 

 too, was a conspicuous failure. Lady William 

 Norton, being about to leave Ceylon in that year, 

 the inhabitants, to testify their esteem and affection 

 for her, unanimously subscribed for a set of Pearl 

 ornaments as the most appropriate testimonial to 



