168 ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



The Modregam Bank, which is intended for fishing next year (1859) con- 

 tains oysters in clusters of three, four, or five, attached to each other. In 

 most parts of the hank the clusters are formed of oysters of the same size, 

 hut, in other parts, oysters of various sizes are clustered together. In one 

 or two places, very small oysters adhere to larger ones ; some of these small 

 oysters could not be more than a few months old. This is a very favour- 

 able sign. Very rarely, indeed, was a young oyster fished up this year in 

 the Cheval Paar Bank. This difference leads us to an inquiry of a very 

 practical nature, which may, perhaps, require years for its solution ; viz., 

 why there are so few young oysters in the old banks ? What became of 

 the spawn, which even middle-sized or young oysters certainly have ? Are 

 the spawn of young oysters of speedy decay ? Analogy leads me to think 

 that the progeny of the old oysters are more likely to reach maturity. 

 This, indeed, will form the subject of further inquiry, particularly as in 

 banks, in shallow water, oysters of all ages are found together. It is 

 reported to me that, some years since, the clusters found in the Modregam 

 Bank were formed of more oysters ; if so, it is natural to conclude that, as 

 oysters grow large, they detach themselves and form clusters. Their 

 faculty of doing this, I have proved, by my investigation in Trincomalie, 

 which is recorded in my report of last year. The larger oysters of the 

 Modregam Bank are at the present moment of about the same size as those 

 fished this year from the Cheval Paar, but there are other marks of 

 difference of age about them, which make me inclined to believe that they 

 are younger than the larger sized oysters found in the Cheval Paar. The 

 shells of the generality of them, although broad and long, are very thin. 

 These oysters also have the worm above mentioned. But I have not been 

 able, as there is no fishery of this bank, to open a sufficient number, to 

 ascertain what is the relative proportion of pearls to the worms found. 

 The pearls I have found in these oysters are in general small, less irregular 

 shaped, of a whiter and more brilliant lustre than the pearls found in the 

 Cheval Paar oysters. The superintendent of the pearl banks has washed 

 five or six thousand of these oj'sters, but I have not yet ascertained the 

 result of this washing. 



Had there been inspections by the inspectors, of other parts of the sea 

 during my stay here, I could perhaps have ascertained many other facts. 

 But as the inspector has neither time, nor can I, single handed, without 

 boats, find out other banks with oysters, I must hope for other opportuni- 

 ties. It would have been more satisfactory to have extended my researches 

 to large banks with smaller oysters than at present found in the Cheval 

 Paar and Modregam ; but as there are no such banks known, even to the 

 inspectors or native headman, my observations have been so far limited. 

 But as I hope that Capt. Higgs and his assistants will bring to light other 

 banks before next year's fishery, I may have the opportunity then of com- 

 pleting my researches, and bringing them to a conclusion.* 



* Mir. Yane Las inspected the banks in October last and found extensive beds of 

 young oysters. These young oysters are not likely to be fit for fishing for the next 



