— 

 00 



Against this we find that the comparatively stunted oysters of the North-West 

 Cheval Par were ready for fishing at Sf years of age— a sample lifted in February 

 1874 giving the high valuation of Rs. 36-S-O per 1,000. 



Finelv °rrown ovsters on the South- East Cheval were also fished in 1S7S at the 

 reputed age of If years; their valuation three months prior thereto was Es. 39-14-2 

 per 1.000. 



The oysters fished on the Aluttuvaratu Par in March 1889 were reputed to be 

 i± years old, and in the November preceding, at the approximate age of 4-J- years, the 

 valuation sample worked out at Rs. 10-2-4 per 1,000. 



m 



2. TJti Pae Group. 



A chain of six banks, the Nagara, Uti, Uduruvi, Ivilati, Attuvaiarpagam and 

 Patarai Pars constitute this group. All are of small and of about equal size, averag- 

 ing from § to -f of a mile in diameter. They lie in a depth of 7 to S| fathoms, 

 landwards of the Tolayirara Par, at a distance of 5 to 7 miles from the shore. They 

 stretch north and south about 3 miles. 



The area is essentially rocky, the proportion of sandy ground intermingled with 

 the rock insignificant. 



Faunistically this area is richer and more diversified than the Tolayiram region, 

 the intimate intermingling of rock and sand upon the latter producing effects when 

 the sea is disturbed which but a comparatively few species of animals can tolerate. 



The fauna agrees closely with that of those southern Ceylon banks lying off 

 Negombo. notably with Uluwitte Par which lies at the same depth. 



The features characterising the Uti banks in common with those off Negombo 

 are as follows : — 



An abundance of sponges including a larger number of small species than in 

 the case of the Tolayiram. Siphonochalina communis with its numerous commensals 

 is among the most common ; fixed corals are scarce ; Zoophytes are profuse with 

 many colonial masses of Fihgrana tubes and everywhere the curious branched tubes 

 of Eunice tubifex. Pinna sp. covered with large Balani are conspicuous on the sandy 

 ground. 



The rocky bottom on the TJti banks is calcrete, containing in some places a 

 considerable quantity of quartz grains embedded in a calcerous matrix. — a quartzose 

 limestone. 



The only fisheries recorded from these banks during the last 120 years took 

 place in 1792, 1830 and 1860-1861. In the last instance the oysters, said to be 4^ 

 years old, were abundant and of good fishing; value. Adjacent banks are usually 

 fished in the same season with these and separate figures of the number of oysters 

 fished from the Uti banks are not available. 



3. Pasi Group. 



Two banks, the Pasi Par and the Attonpatu Par, may be linked together under 

 this head. They lie 6 to 7 miles off Hare Island, Tuticorin, at a depth of 8 to 9 

 fathoms, and are situated nearly midway between the Uti Par group and the western 

 margin of the Tolayiram Par. 



These also were fished in 1861 together with the adjoining Uti Par and 

 associated banks. Since then the only records of oysters present in quantity are — 



1863 ... ... ... "Very young oysters and Suran." 



1-70 ... ... ... " Plenty of young oysters of 1 5 years." 



1881 ... ... ... " Large numbers of oysters of one year of age with Suran 



in some places and covered with weeds." 



In addition, in 1894, 1896 and 1901 some few young were found, but as their 

 number was limited we may disregard them and draw the inference that like so many 

 other banks on this side these two suffer rather from a shortage of spat than from 

 inability to support in health those that do appear and survive the dangers of the 

 fir-t IS months of existence. 



