57 



pearl oyster valves, entire and also fragmentary, were abundant, fully If years old ; 

 of live "ones but a few odd individuals were found greatly overgrown with tunieates 

 and polyzoa and distinctly stunted in appearance. 



The sand on the Yaipar Karai Par is appreciably more dirty and muddy than 

 that on the Cruxian pars, a difference due to the vicinity of the embouchure of the 

 Yaipar river. The other pars of the group are probably less affected but all have 

 borne mature oysters, the group being included in the fishery ground of 1861. 



The faunistic characters approximate to that of the Cruxian pars. Pinna sp. 

 bearing large Balani predominate. A few corals (astrasids) were seen with lepto- 

 clinids and zoophytes. 



Sponges are neither numerous nor conspicuous. 



It appears from the records that these banks have suffered neglect in recent 

 vears, which in view of the fishery held there in 1861 and of the record by Captain 

 Phipps of an abundance of young oysters in 1867, 1873, 1877, 1881 and 1884 they 

 do not justify. 



Thus the Karai Par received no attention for the years 1887 to 1894 and again 

 from 1897 to 1903, both inclusive, a period of eight years in the one case and of 

 seven in the other. 



In the case of the other pars of the group the vears of neglect are 1888 to 1890, 

 1S92, 1S93, 1898, 1900 and 1901, eight years in all. 



It is quite conceivable that fishable oysters were missed through such omission 

 and it emphasizes the contention I make elsewhere for a reorganization of the work 

 of inspection upon such a scientific basis of accuracy and method as will preclude 

 such lengthy periods of neglect. 



A significant incident pointing to the imperfection of the methods in use in the 

 management of these banks is the statement made in Mr. H. Sullivan Thomas' report * 

 that oysters of 2f to 3 years of age were found in December 1869 upon the 

 Pernandu, Padutta Marikan and Padutta Marikan Tundu Pars, while the entry for 

 March 1869 states that these banks were totally devoid, of oysters, — "blank". 

 Comment is superfluous on such a state of affairs, not unknown either in the past history 

 of the Ceylon banks. f 



The Padutta Marikan Tundu par was one of the banks fished in 1830, the only 

 record of a fishery en this par during the past century. 



6. Nenjuhichchan Par Group. 



Three of the usual small pars, § to one mile long, compose this group, namely, 

 Kenjurichehan, Kundanjan, and Mela Onpatu Pars and cannot be treated otherwise 

 than as a single unit. They lie at a distance of about 6 miles from^he shore midway 

 between Tuticorin and Pinnacoil. The depth is 7f to 8J fathoms. 



The rockj T surface is extensive and comparatively free from inorganic sand, 

 what there is being composed largely of Poraminifera (Orbibolites and Heterostegina). 

 The rock surface is level and well adapted for dredging purposes. 



Physically and fauuistically this group resembles closely the seaward side of the 

 Ceylon Muttuvaratu Par. Like the latter it is rich in sponges and in Gorgonoids 

 (Gorgonia miniacea, Sulerogorgia suberosa, Juncella juncea), while the long-armed 

 Asterid Linckia leavigata is fairly common. 



The group has a disappointing history we]l expressed in the name of the median 

 par — NenjurichchaD, literally " Heart-harrower ". Why this should be so is difficult 

 to say as the group lies but less than a mile to the south of the Tolayiram Par group ; 

 even the sandy stretch separating these groups carries occasional clusters of oysters 

 and on the chank bed to the north-west it is not uncommon to find a dozen young 

 oysters making use of the chanks in the absence of cultch and rock. 



• Zoe. cit., page 52. 



t Twynaro, Sir William — "Report on the Pearl Fishery of 1888," Ceylon, 1888, page 13, also Stewart— 

 " Account of the Pearl Fisheries." 



15 



