53 



Probably the reason for such continued lack of oysters is duo to some peculiarity 

 in the set of the surface drift over these beds. 



This group should receive regular attention during the next few years with a 

 view to elucidate the reasons for this characteristic, note being taken (and recorded) 

 of the character of the surface at each inspection, together, with particulars of the 

 relative abuudance of chief organisms met with, sponges, Gorgonoids, corals, the 

 tubes of Eunice, " Suran ", chanks, fishes and seaweeds. 



7. Puli Pundit Group. 



South-west of the Nenjurichchan group, this collection of small rocky banks 

 comprising the Vada Onpntu, Saith Onpatu, Puli Pundu and Kanna Puli Pundn 

 Pais, is situated about 9 miles north -east of Pinnacoil and some 8 miles west from 

 the coa.-t. The deplh ranges between 7§ to 8| fathoms. 



The bottom of the pars is of flat-fcurfaccd rock, somewhat patchy in distribution. 

 Here and theje is a small amount of cultch, more especially on the landward side, 

 where a consitleiable amount of water-worn coral branches, " chullai ", is present. 



The par is mostly a fine grained and exceedingly dense limestone, reddish brown 

 in tint and so haid as to ring under the hammer. Occasionally the traces of dead 

 massive corals, Astrcea or Mtandrina, appear embedded in the surface layer of this rock, 

 and are usually much bored into by tuuuelling molluscs and sponges. 



The parchment like tubes of Eunice tubifex are most profuse, their lower 

 portions penetrating the tunnels already existing in the surface of the par-calcrete. 

 The usual massive sponges, Sijphonochdlina communis, Spongetla nigra, and Suberites 

 inconstans are met with, while off the edge of the banks on the west and north chanka 

 were met with in number together with occasional Pinnae. 



The history of the group is disappointing, no record existing of any fishery 

 having taken place here, although there were spat falls noted in 1667, 1874, 1878> 

 18&5, 1895, 1897 and 1901, all of small extent and of no practical importance. 



The lank was not examined during the 8 years between 1886 and 1895. 



Fishes are veiy plentiful on this ground and the area of rochy ground exposed 

 is practically insignificant compared w iih the area of sand, while culteh is quite 

 insufficient. It is possible that iu these three disabilities we have the reasons for 

 the smallness of the numbers of oysters noticed here from time to time. 



8. Inner Kudamuttu Group. 



A series, stretching north and south, of 6 small banks lying 5 to 6 miles off 

 the coast between Pinnacoil and Kayalpattanam. The most northerly is the small 

 Pinnacoil Seltan Par, the most southerly a small bank, unnamed upon the chart, 

 lying a quarter of a mile south of the Saith Kudamuttu Par — the depth in all eases 

 being 7^ to 8^ fathoms. 



The general character of the rocky ground is almost identical with that 

 characterising the Uti Par group which lies in the same depth of water. Many of 

 the larger organisms found in the latter locality are also present here, sponges and 

 Eunicid tubes coming up at nearly every dive. Pinna and Bulanus were noted as 

 absent from these banks — common features of the Uti pars. As on the latter, a 

 few odd oysters remain from the generation noted in 1902 as being from 1^ to 2 

 years old ; all were more or less enveloped in the orange-red sponge Clathria inc/ica. 



In IS 18 Kudamuttu, Saith Kudamuttu and Pulu Pars gave a fishery yielding 

 Es. 1,67,693. Ten years later they were fished again in conjunction with the 

 neighbouring pars, and from an entry in Captain Phipp's list * that oysters 2\ to 3 

 years old were present in May 1860 and that no inspection was made in the twa 

 following years, I think there can be no doubt that mature fishable oysters were 

 here also in 1861 or 1862, not being fished owing to a large number of other banks 

 being stocked at the same date and receiving preference in the order of fishing. 



* Tl oma', H. SulHv* \, loo. oit., p. 68.. 



