The Pearl Fishery of Southern India. 2 1 1 



successively conducted" by the Portuguese, the Dutch, 

 and the English, have been at Tuticorin. 



In 1822, after the English occupation of 

 Tuticorin, there was a fishery which yielded a profit 

 of ;^i3,ooo to the Indian revenue; and another 

 in 1830 yielded ;^io,ooo. The Tinnevelly banks 

 afterwards passed into an unsatisfactory condition, 

 and Avere not profitably worked for many years. 

 But Capt. Robertson, and his successor Capt. Phipps, 

 who officially examined the fishing grounds between 

 1856 and 1859, reported favourably on their condition, 

 and in March, i860, a fishery was commenced — the 

 first which had been attempted since 1830. 



The Pearl-banks off Tuticorin and Trichendoor, 

 lie at a distance of about six or eight miles from the 

 shore, and at a depth of from five-and-a-half to 

 eight-and-a-half fathoms. From time immemorial 

 this fishing has been conducted by " a caste called 

 Parawas, who are met with along the Tinnevelly 

 coast, from Cape Cormorin to the Paumben Channel. 

 They were all converted and baptized wholesale by 

 St. Francis Xavier, and are now Roman Catholics, 

 the ancient church at Tuticorin being the freehold 

 of the caste." The divers are described as an honest 

 set of men, but readily yielding to intemperate habits. 

 " They cross themselves before plunging into the 



