HORNELL— MARINE RESOtJRCES 15 



is limited to the peripheral region — to that zone which is uncovered, and then 

 only partially, at the times of exceptionally great spring tides — tides which occur 

 but seldom in the course of each year. This zone forming the pearl oyster habitat 

 is the equivalent of the European laminarian zone. On Pagar Kada we saw 

 evidence of the presence of pearl oysters in this zone in greater numbers than 

 on any other reef examined, both in regard to living individuals and dead shells. 

 Unfortunately, Pagar Kada, although geographically belonging to Okhamandal, is 

 claimed by Jamnagar on the ground of prescriptive rights (pearl fishery rights 

 I presume they are), and the Courts have decided in favour of this contention. 



Summing up the facts ascertained regarding the conditions under which pearl 

 oysters live in this district, we find that they occur solely in that zone which 

 marks the low-tide seaward fringe of the shore reefs of Adatra, Poshetra, Hanuman 

 Dandi, of the isolated reefs of Chindi, Borio and Mangunda, all submerged at 

 high tide, and of the rocky islets in Beyt Harbour. 



The most valuable of these (if we can use such an expression when the oysters 

 occur so sparsely) are the reefs of Borio, Mangunda, and Adatra ; Chindi and Hanuman 

 Dandi appear less favourable as the habitat of pearl oysters. 



Now comes the consideration as to whether anything can be done to establish a 

 remunerative oyster fishery in the district. We see that pearl oysters do live there 

 naturally, and that they thrive and even produce pearls — one of the three found by us 

 contained a fair-sized pearl. We know, too, that a small pearl fishery has existed on the 

 co-terminous coast of Jamnagar, where similar natural conditions prevail ; therefore 

 it will be useful at this point to see how this fishery is being carried on at the present 

 day, and to see if it has further light to throw on our own problem. 



The rules laid down for the conduct of the Jamnagar fishery show the industry to 

 be one of great antiquity, and one regulated by rules as quaint as they are unique. 



The essential points are as follows : — 



(a) The fishery is carried on under Government control and supervision as a 

 monopoly of the State. 



(6) The pearl fishers are not paid in wages for their labour, receiving instead a 

 specified proportion of the value of the pearls they may find, partly in cash, partly 

 in kind. 



(c) All pearl fishers are licensed by families, and no one may obtain these licences 

 except fishermen of specified villages. {Note. — This gives the shore-dwelling villagers 

 a direct and hereditary interest in the fishery, and is a regulation so excellent that 

 it might with advantage be adopted in modified form elsewhere.) 



(d) The pearl fishery season is limited to the hot weather season, beginning in 

 June. It is not carried on daily, but only on the dates of the greater spring tides, 

 ■when the lowest levels of the littoral may be expected to be uncovered at low tide. 



