HORNELL— MARINE RESOURCES 9 



as ruler. " And the Jam forbore to work these fisheries for fear, lest if their 

 great value should be known to the Emperor, his territory might be permanently 

 confiscated " ! 



That some of the best of the Jamnagar pearl-fishing ground is situated on 

 tide-washed reefs a few mil^ to the east of Beyt was a fact holding out distinct 

 promise to the Okhamandal ofiicials ; accordingly, the services of two Arab divers were 

 secured for two months in the autumn of 1894 (about October), but without any 

 success, the season being stated to be unfavourable. 



Subsequently two Nawanagar pearl fishers who had settled in Dwarka were 

 induced to make a fresh attempt. They did succeed in finding some pearl oysters, 

 and from these about seventy-nine pearls were obtained, of an aggregate value of 

 Rs. 58-11-0. Three other pearls were found about the same time, one of which was 

 valued at Rs. 30, the others at 8 annas and 6 pies respectively. They were of the 

 same general quality as the average of those fished in Jamnagar. This particular 

 attempt was then abandoned, as it was considered undesirable at that stage to 

 spend more money on investigation, principally on account of the great difficulty 

 experienced in obtaining men having suitable knowledge of the work. 



In view of this obstacle to local effort, I was desired by the Baroda Government to 

 engage in Ceylon a small staff of divers to accompany me to Dwarka and take part in 

 the work of inspection. I therefore took with me three of the best Tamil divers I was 

 acquainted with, men capable of diving and working at a depth of ten fathoms, and as 

 far as possible we utilised their services on every suitable occasion. Unfortunately, the 

 only season when the western coast of Okhamandal can be examined is during the cold 

 season, when the north-east monsoon is on ; as a consequence the temperature of the 

 sea was low, and the discomfort of this to naked divers was so intensified by chilly 

 winds that the time devoted to diving was much curtailed on many days. A 

 combination of diving, dredging, and wading at low water proved sufficient to provide 

 the necessary data to enable us to settle the question at issue definitely and finally. 



The facts ascertained regarding the different sections of the coast may be sum- 

 marised as follows : — 



Western Coast. — No living pearl oysters were found anywhere along the western 

 coast of Okhamandal, neither were there found any dead shells — not even the veriest 

 scrap of one. 



Right along this shore, from Dwarka northwards to Okha Point, unmistakable 

 signs were everywhere manifest of the great force and violence of wave-action 

 experienced during the south-west monsoon. Just north of Dwarka headland the tidal 

 or littoral plateau is of great width and remarkably level. Even a tyro can see how 

 the plateau owes its origin to the undermining and disintegrating action of the heavy 

 rollers which at high tide during the monsoon break at the base of the cliffs with terrific 

 force. The sea is gradually eating into the land all along this coast, forming a wide 



