41 



The sand was clean and in some places contained a larger proportion of quartz 

 grains than at any other place hitherto examined. Pennatula sp. and Virgularia 

 juncea were fairly common as was also the flat ecbinoid Clypeaster humilis. A few 

 Pentaceros lincki and Fungia dentata were also met with. 



From this position we went west, traversing the area indicated on the chart as a 

 large cbank bed. Here the sand became fine, dark in colour and slightly muddy. 

 Zigzagging over this 16 dives were made, giving uniform results regarding the 

 character of the sand and the organisms characterising it, numerous small chanks, 

 small Pinna sp. and rooted fan-alga?. 



Our supply of water was by this time almost exhausted ; so, after completing the 

 examination of tbis cbank bed, the " Margarita " was headed for Tuticorin where we 

 arrived the same afternoon. 



The tsvo next days I spent ashore in a further examination of records and in 

 gathering local opinions, which I hold should never be treated with indifference. A 

 mean has to be steered between the extremes of credulous faith and scornful contempt, 

 and if tbe sifting be judicious the stories and opinions of fishermen and divers may 

 often furnish useful hints of considerable importance in drawing deductions and in 

 furnishing the necessary clue to elucidate some difficulty or apparent contradiction. 



A studv of the significance and origin of place names may also furnish consider- 

 able assistance, and the Jati Talaivamore, whose title is frequently rendered as Jati 

 Talaivan, was fortunately able and willing to facilitate my task. 



I nder Captain Carlyon's kind guidance I was enabled also to examine tbe 

 godown in which the cbanks collected by divers on Government account are stored 

 pending tbe periodical auction sale. 



Tbis store is situated about a mile north of the town at a spot conveniently near 

 the shore, on land that once was a salt marsh. 



Tbe great majority of the shells were of medium size ; quite a large number 

 bore a cluster of young oysters, two to six months old, upon the upper whorls of the 

 shell. In one case 11 young oysters bad been so carried — a fact bespeaking both the 

 abundance of oyster spat during the last six months and the poverty of resting places 

 for the attachment of the spat at the end of the free-swimming stage. 



Chanks of a size too small to be paid for, formed a heap of quite respectable 

 dimensions. 



The " Margarita" left Tuticorin on her second cruise at 7 a.m. on May 10th. 

 The weather showed signs of impending change and on that account I was extremely 

 anxious to ascertain at once the condition of the northern pars in order to compare 

 with that of the southern groups with which I had now obtained a fairly satisfactory 

 acquaintance. I decided therefore to devote this cruise to an examination of the 

 banks between Kilakarai and Tuticorin. 



Cruxiax Group. — Of these banks tbe three southernmost, the Vantivu Arupagani 

 Par, the Cruxian Par and the Cruxian Tundu Par, may conveniently be grouped 

 together as the Cruxian group. 



They have long been classed among the banks from which a fishery may from 

 time to time be expected * and accordingly, although they cover a comparatively small 

 area, I made a specially exhaustive examination first by a traverse from end to end 

 by the four inspection boats strung out inline at quarter mile intervals as usual and 

 upon the completion of this, by causmg them to make four circles round the ship 

 when at anchor upon the centre of the most important of the group — the Cruxian Par 

 itself. 



At 8 a.m. a half knot current was running from the north 3 with wind from N.W.; 

 temperature of water 89° F.;, specific gravity 1,022'80. 



Besides the work done by the divers in the boats who made in all 250 descents, 

 a large number of check dives was made from the steamer. These, when compared 

 with results obtained from the boats, showed the three pars to have a distinct and 

 characteristic facies of their own, and pointed to the practical advisability of uniting 

 the three under one head both on account of faunistic and of physical identity. 



'■ Th-6 Cruxian group gave gatisfaotory results at tbt fishery of 1861. 



