75 



During examination the inspection vessel should moor as near the centre of each 

 section as possible, and if to one side, modify the outer boat circuits to suit this as 

 shown in the accompanying diagram. 



The black circle is the outline of the Pearl Bank section to be examined — 



(i) The ship's position. (d) A f mile semi-oircait. 



(£) The i mile circuit. (e) A 1 mile eeini-oircuit. 



(c) The J mile circuit. 



"With good landmarks, reliable compass, and painstaking endeavour it should 

 not be difficult to anchor with approximate accuracy upon the centre of each section. 



The banks of superior value lie from south of Vembar to off Manapad, the Devi 

 Par being the most northerly, the Manapad group marking the most southerly limit. 



Charts C and D (annexures III and IV) show the inspection sections which I 

 propose. They are based upon the Pearl Bank chart at present in use and which in 

 turn is based upon the Admiralty Chart of this part of the coast. 



Each of the circles, of which there are 35 according to my arrangement, is 

 marked with its own distinctive number. The inspection of each circle should be 

 completed in one morning, leaving the afternoon wherein to lift the twelve mark- 

 buoys, shift the inspection vessel, locate the centre of the next circle, and to lay out 

 the buoys for the following day's work. 



Given average fair weather, such an inspection would occupy six weeks. 



If the weather be favourable and other circumstances allow, I recommend that 

 the whole programme be completed in one season, in which case, should the results 

 show no considerable deposit of oysters to be present, the inspection of the following 

 year may be greatly curtailed and be in the nature of traverse prospection rather than 

 detailed circle inspection. Circle inspection and zigzag prospecting may be used in 

 alternate years, but wherever oysters be found in quantity, detailed circle inspection 

 with careful numerical estimates should be carried out annually. Where oysters of 

 over 1\ years of age are known to exist, inspection should take place if possible tivice 

 a year and a valuation sample drawn at the age of 3£ years and thereafter twice 

 annually until such time as the valuation amounts to over Es. 10 per 1,000, where- 

 upon it becomes incumbent to consider whether or not a fishery should be held at as 

 early a date as possible. 



Details of the method of circle inspection. — The essential features may be stated 

 as follows : — ■ 



Three flag-buoys are laid out by the attendant launch or tug-boat in the 

 direction of each cardinal point of the compass at distances apart of a quarter of a 

 mile, the inmost buoys taking their distance from the inspection vessel, which is 

 anchored to serve as a pivot mark in the centre of the area to be inspected. 



Four inspection boats (modified whale boats), each manned by a crew of six, 

 together with three divers and two munduks, under the charge of an experienced 

 coxswain, take up equidistant positions between the ship and the first buoy on the 

 north line and row slowly round the ship, retaining their relative positions the while. 

 At regular intervals the crews rest on their oars to allow the divers opportunity to 

 make descents. The result of each dive is reported to the coxswain of the respective 

 boat, who records it upon a diagram with which he is provided. 



