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blame on antiquated methods and lack of foresight and method in organization ? The 

 average price obtained per thousand in 1889 was Rs. 22-8-6 ; therefore if the organi- 

 zation of the fishery had ensured, as it ought to have done, the lifting, we will not say 

 of the whole 309,000,000 of Captain Phipps' estimate, but merely of a modest 

 50,000,000 oysters, then, instead of taking but Rs. 1,89,986 in 1889, Government 

 woidd have had a revenue of Rs. 7,50,000 — a preventible loss occurred of over 5 lakhs 

 of rupees. 



The actual take was, however, as I have stated, but 4 per cent, of the estimated 

 crop ; 96 per cent, was literally thrown away for want of the means to gather it in. 



To overcome the labour difficulty created by the preference shown by the divers 

 for Cevlon when fisheries coincide in the same year on each side of the Gulf of 

 Mannar, it was recommended by the Board of Revenue in August 1890 that efforts 

 should be made to arrive at some arrangement with the Ceylon Government, the basis 

 of arrangement to be either a division of the fishing season in point of time or a 

 limitation of the number of boats employed upon the Ceylon side. 



Subsequently an agreement was actually arrived at * upon the former basis 

 whereby when fisheries on the two sides of the Gulf should occur in the same season 

 in anv future year, it was agreed that the Ceylon fishery should begin in February 

 and close at the end of March, leaving April and May for the prosecution of the 

 Tuticorin fishery. 



Prom the experience I have had of actual fishing conditions, I am of opinion that 

 in practice this agreement will be found unworkable. The beginning of February is 

 too earlv in the season to start fishing on the Ceylon coast. Divers will not attend 

 till weather conditions become settled, till the intermonsoon lull begins, characterized 

 bv alternating land and sea breezes and by clear limpid water free from suspended 

 particles of mud and sand. 



No dependence can be placed upon the oncome of this period prior to the first 

 week in March, and I cannot see how the Ceylon Government can agree to close their 

 fisherv some three weeks after the date of actual opening and just when the fishing is 

 probably at its best. Apart from governmental considerations such a proceeding 

 would be deeply resented by the divers and the merchants ; if they were compelled to 

 go, the fishery being summarily closed, the consequences would be felt at subsequent 

 fisheries. The proposal is only practicable if fishing could be begun early in February 

 and this as I have said is impossible owing to circumstances beyond the control of the 

 Ceylon Government. Neither can the Ceylon Government limit the number of boats 

 participating if there be sufficient abundance of pearl oysters to justify the work, 

 indeed it would be an advantage to Madras if the Ceylon Government were able to 

 obtain such a number of boats as would clear the bank to be fished in a limited period, 

 as then the divers would be at liberty to depart and would be available for the Indian 

 beds. However, even in the case of a cessation of the Ceylon fishery at the end of 

 March, I am convinced that an Indian fishery in April and May would benefit there- 

 by very little if the Ceylon fishery had been at all successful. At a fishery, such as 

 the Ceylon one of this year, the divers make so much money as to be wealthy beyond 

 their dreams of avarice for that year at least. The more prudent Moormen have made 

 enough money to enable them to invest in new fishing nets, new boats, or jewellery 

 and dowries for their women, while the thriftless Parawas find enough money in their 

 pockets to hand a substantial sum to their Church and leave enough over to permit 

 them to feast and be merry for several weeks or, perhaps, even months. 



Such men will be induced only with the utmost difficulty to undertake a second 

 diving season hard on the heels of the first ; they will be restless, discontented, and 

 eager to seize any excuse to get away. Witness what happened in 1890 when a 

 number of divers returning from fishing on the Ceylon banks, were pursuaded to 

 resume operations off Tuticorin ; only eight days fishing was obtained as the divers 

 utilized with their usual skill the stalking-horse cry of " sharks on the banks ". As 

 any stick is good enough to beat a dog, so any excuse is considered good enough to 

 utilize when the divers for any reason wish a fishery to come to an end. At one time 

 it is "sharks" ; at another, the alleged scarcity of oysters, " chippi illei". Illness, 



* Id February 1692, according to information supplied from the Colonial Secretary's office, Colombo. 



