HOllNELL— MARINE RESOURCES 



23 



up in l)aiTels, ;ind a C(jnsiderabli.' proportion are laid down in English waters eith(\r 

 to fatten and improve in ijuality, or to await a l)ettcr marliet. 



When abundant tliey may be canned for export or tlieir tlesli dried for dcspatcli 

 to China where there i,s a large and steady demand for such and similar delicacies. 



The industry in Okhamandal is, however, too limited by restricted area to permit 

 of the latter uses, which necessitate both a very extensive and very cheap sup]ily. If 

 anything be done, it must be, as at Karachi, in the supply to inland towns of high class 

 live shellfish. This can be effected only when means of rapid transport lie a^'ailable, 

 which will come when a railway lie Ijuilt from Aramra to Nawanagar, and when a 

 fishery expert be available to initiat(.' methods and demonstrate how simple is tlie 

 procedure to be followed and, it is h(_)ped, how prolitaljle the results ol)taiuablc. 



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Fig. S. — Oj'ster ruck.s between tide-iiuirks at Poislietra Point. The species is 0. cristii-ijdUi. 



Aramra Creek is an ideal situation for oyster cultmition. The area is fairly 

 extensive and is favoured with exceptionally great aljuudance of suitaljle oyster food 

 (diatoms and algal spores were profuse in the plankton taken there), suitalde luittom 

 exposed over the wli(.)le area at certain spring tides, and last!}', complete protei-tio]i 

 from rouo'h seas. 



In many ways Aramra. Creek has a close resemblance to Brightlings(_'a (Jri'ck in 

 Essex, famous alike to ()3'ster culturist and yachtsman. The advantages ai-(_', how(!ver, 

 with Aramra; the area of ha.rd bottom composed of shingle set in a, soft clay or 

 com2:)act mud, is greater, and forms an admirable ''laying ground" reipiiring little 

 improvement by cleaning and cidtching. It is here that oysters are now found 

 naturally in fine condition. Others, again, are found towards the head of the 

 creek attached to the roots of mangroves lining the banks. It would be a very 



