Feb. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



THE TINNEVELLY PEARL-BANKS. 297 



covered to be a source of considerable wealth, and forthwith a system of 

 reckless destruction for the sake of immediate gain is inaugurated. 

 Then the supply begins to fail — a panic ensues ; and, when science and 

 forethought are called in, it is discovered that ordinary prudence and a 

 judicious system of conservancy would have insured an annual unfailing 

 yield from^the first. Such has been the history of cinchona bark in 

 South America, of the teak and other timber of the Indian forests, and 

 such also is the story of the Tinnevelly pearl-banks since the Dutch times. 



In 1822, the Tuticorin pearl fishery contributed about 13,000Z. to 

 the Indian revenue, and in 1830 about 10,000Z. ; but after the latter 

 date there was no yield at all for many years. Between 1830 and 1856 

 there were thirteen examinations of the banks, and on each occasion it 

 was found that there was not a sufficient number of grown oysters to 

 yield a profitable fishery, and none was therefore attempted. The un- 

 satisfactory condition of the banks was attributed to several causes. 

 Captain Kobertson, the Master Attendant at Tuticorin, thought that 

 the widening of the Paumben channel, which caused a stronger flow of 

 current over the banks of the coast, prevented the molluscs from 

 adhering, and that the fishers for large conch shells called chanks 

 (which are used as horns in the worship of idols, and cut into segments 

 of circles as ornaments for women's wrists), anchoring their boats on the 

 banks, killed the oysters. The dead oysters would, of course, have a 

 fatal effect on their neighbours. The native divers attributed the state 

 of the banks to the pernicious influence of two other shell-fish, called 

 " soorum " (a kind of Modiola) and " kullikoz " (an Avicula), which are 

 mingled with the pearl oysters on the banks, and, as the natives believe, 

 destroy them. 



In 1856, however, an examination was made by Captain Eobertson, 

 and it was found that at least four of the banks off Tuticorin, called 

 " Cooroochan Paur " " Navary Paur, " Oodooroovie Paur," and " Clothie 

 Paur," were well covered with young pearl oysters, which would be 

 old enough to be fished in 1860-61. The Madras Government therefore 

 determined that every precaution should be taken in order that the 

 banks might receive no injury during the interval. The chank fishery 

 off Tuticorin was ordered to be entirely put a stop to. at the termination 

 of the contract, and vessels were provided to protect the pearl-banks 

 from poachers, on board one of which Captain Eobertson was unfortu- 

 nately lost in March, 1859. 



Captain Robertson was succeeded as Master Attendant of Tuticorin 

 and Superintendent of the Tinnevelly Pearl-Banks by Captain Phipps, 

 to whose zeal and intelligence the fishery owes its present hopeful con- 

 dition, and under whose auspices the fiishery of March, 1860, the first 

 that had been attempted since 1830, was opened. 



A Government pearl fishery is a most legitimate source of revenue, 

 and forms an exception to all other monopolies, which, as. a rule, have 

 in modern times been justlyjjondemned. But pearls are simply articles 



