61 



nodular masses of Lithothamuion (" kotteipakku ") and worn fragments of dead 

 coral ("ehullai"). Such diversity seems a condition specially suited to the require- 

 ments of oysters. 



12. Odakarai Par. 



A bank lying six miles west of Trichendur and due south of the Karuwal group 

 with which it appears to be linked in its main characteristics. 



Much of the bottom is well cultched with Lithothamnion nodules * and the extent 

 of rocky bottom is satisfactory, the par extending about 1^ mile north and south. The 

 depth is S to Sf fathoms. 



Prior to 1885, this, in common with the banks included under the term Manapad 

 group, received insufficient attention and there can he little doubt that ftshable oysters 

 occupied the lank in 1900 and perhaps in 1901, — years when no examination was made, 

 although it was reported in 1S99 that oysters of 2|- inches in depth were sufficiently 

 numerous to give 20 to a dive. 



In the 44 years since 1860 the bank was examined sixteen times only, so that no 

 inspection teas made during 28 years. Twice there ivas no examination for five years in 

 succession, and this in view of the lank being for all practical purposes a portion of the 

 most prolific oyster-maturing ground on this coast ! 



13. Chodi Par. 



A bank four miles west of Trichendur in 8J to 9 fathoms of water. I had no 

 opportunity to examine it. 



According to the inspection records it bore oysters of one, two and three years of 

 age in 1 S<>9 and is described as being covered with shells and coarse sand about six 

 inches to a foot deep in IS 91 and 1894. It is marked as " useless " in the summary 

 of 1899, a conclusion I do not think is justifiable in view of (a) the oysters met with 

 here in 1869 and {I) its proximity (one mile north) to the Tundu Par which yielded 

 ovsters at the fishery of 1900. It is noteworthy in this connection to observe that 

 these Tundu Par oysters were not known to the Inspector prior to the fishery in 

 question, being discovered accidentally by the divers on their way to the fishery 

 ground on the Teradi Puli Piditta Par. Once again I feel driven to the conclusion 

 that inspection work has too frequently been performed in perfunctory manner, with 

 want of method and over too limited an area. Only ten times since 1860 has any 

 attention been paid to this bank and in view of the imperfect method of inspection 

 employed I am far from being convinced that the examination was efficiently carried 

 out and that the results shown are reliable. In most years no note is supplied of 

 the number of dives made, and in the abserice of this we have no guide to the thorough- 

 ness of the work done. I shall return to a consideration of this vitally important 

 subject when dealing with general conclusions. 



14. Tttkdu Par. 



A bank lying one mile south of Chodi Par at the same distance from land, depth 

 from 9 to 9| fathoms. 



It appears to have been fourteen times examined in the course of the last 44 

 years. In 1897 it was not examined ; in 1898 oysters were "plentiful, 35 to a dive, 

 two inches in size and healthy in appearance " ; the succeeding year states " Nothing 

 of value ", while in 1900 the fishing fleet stumbled by chance on a fine bed of oysters, 

 fully four years old on thi3 very bank, a telling impeachment of the accuracy of the 

 general results of the examination carried out in the preceding year ! The oysters 

 plentiful in 1898, and missed at the regular inspection of 1899, would assuredly have 

 matured and died unknown had the accidental rediscovery of the bed not been made 

 by the diver3 on their way to the " official" fishing ground. 



The fishery of 1900 proves the good potentialities of this bank, which deserves 

 regular and careful attention in common with all the groups in this neighbourhood. 

 It is also to be noted to the credit of this bank that the oysters fished here in 1900 

 were larger shells than those from the Teradi Puli Piditta Par and fetched better 

 prices than the latter. 



* Inspection Beport, 1887. 



16 



