22 OKHAMANDAL MAKINE ZOOLOGY REPORT 



I would propose that advantage be taken of the fact that the female chank 

 deposits her ova in large capsules six to ten inches long, formed of a tough, parchment- 

 like substance and having the form of a twisted and corrugated ram's horn.' They are 

 unmistakable when once seen, and are internally divided by a series of transverse 

 (horizontal) walls agreeing with the number of grooves on the exterior. In the com- 

 partments thus formed eight to ten young chanks develop from eggs. They remain to 

 quite an advanced stage within the capsule, breaking out only when they approach a 

 length of about half an inch. The larger capsules may contain a total of 150 to 230 

 young of a size fit to begin a free life. 



If operations be decided upon, means should be taken, by reward or otherwise, to 

 obtain a number of these capsules and transfer them to a small pound or enclosure near 

 low-water limit and on a bottom of suitable chank sand. Here they would be kept till 

 the young chanks escape from the capsule, when they may be allowed to wander freely 

 within the enclosure in search of food. Care would have to be taken that the netting 

 or palisading of the pound be fine enough to prevent the young chanks making their 

 way out. It would also be desirable to provide some shelter, in the shape of seaweeds, 

 within the pound that the young chanks may crawl beneath the fronds if they wish. 

 Later on, as experience be gained, a further step may be taken by enclosing a number 

 of mature chanks within the pound with a view to obtaining a regular supply of egg- 

 capsules. It must be understood,' however, that these suggestions are tentative ; no 

 attempts so far have been made to subject chanks to cultural methods — probably 

 experience will necessitate considerable modification and elaboration of the operations 

 suggested. The first point to ascertain will be the spawning-time of chanks on the 

 Okhamandal coast ; we have no information thereon at present. 



EDIBLE OYSTERS. 



Two species of Ostrea, the edible oyster, occur m Okhamandal, namely — 0. crista- 

 galli, L. and (probably) 0. cucullata, Born. The former, which covers the rocks 

 near high-water limit at Poshetra Point in vast numbers, is unfortunately of little 

 economic value on account of its comparatively small size and very irregular growth ; 

 the second species, as seen in samjjles from Aramra Creek and from Poshetra Point, 

 grows to a good size and is of most excellent flavour. 



Hitherto the demand and taste for edible oysters in India has been extremely 

 restricted and usually in local demand only, but may be expected to increase 

 rapidly when once regular supplies are available, seeing how nutritious and palatable 

 this mollusc is. 



Oyster culture has two important initial advantages — the ease and low expense 

 at which it may be carried on, and the endurance shown by oysters during transport ; 

 live oysters are successfully sent in large quantities from America to Europe headed 



