(3) The general outward appearance, stunted or of free vigorous growth, should 

 be stated and also whether the oysters be extensively covered or not with sponges 

 aud other crusting organisms in exceptional degree. 



(4) The comparative abundance of the following animals should be noted, so 

 far as it is possible to ascertain the facts : — 



(a) Chanks (with a view to utilizing this knowledge in further exploiting 



the chank fishery). 



(b) Starfishes (especially the scarlet-lake coloured Pentaceros lincki, a great 



enemy of the pearl-oyster). 



(c) Eockfishes and Trigger-fishes ( Vellamin and Kilati). 



(d) Suran (Modiola barbaia). 



(e) False-spat {Avicula vexillum). 



The abundance of sea-weed might also be recorded. 



Charting the results. — Each of the four Inspection Coxswains should fill up, each 

 day that circle inspection be employed, a diagram form similar to that shown in 

 annexure V, while the Inspector should the same day transfer to a master — form 

 (annexure VII) provided with twelve concentric circles, the information contained in 

 the diagrams furnished by the four Coxswains. 



By this means he will be enabled to lay down the extent of the rocky bottom 

 present, and later, when the entire inspection is complete, the outlines of these areas of 

 rock should be filled in upon a skeleton chart. The final results, if carried out with 

 care and accuracy would provide material, in the course of a few years' work, 

 sufficient to enable a revision of the Pearl Bank chart to be undertaken, in respect of 

 the par outlines or boundaries. 



The resultant chart would then indicate the rocky areas which remain compara- 

 tively free from sand from year to year, i.e., the mean distribution or exposure of 

 rocky bottom during normal seasons. If the distribution of oysters be also shown 

 upon another similar skeleton chart, comparison of a series of these with the rock 

 distribution chart would show if any part of the sandy areas frequently bear oysters, 

 and what parts, if any, bring their oysters to maturity most regularly. 



Further and much needed light would also be shed upon the relative value of 

 different sections and would lead probably to a concentration of effort upon certain 

 patches, while others might be found so uniformly unprofitable as to be ignored there- 

 after, whereby time would be economized or devoted more usefully to the more 

 favourably situated pars. 



The Inspector, when he furnishes his periodical reports, should accompany it by 

 the two charts named — one showing the distribution of rock and sand over the ground 

 examined, and the other that of the distribution of oysters, a separate colour being 

 used for different ages, the average size being given of each age. 



Copies of these charts should be kept in the Inspector's office, and bound into 

 permanent form every few years for the purpose of future reference. 



II. Regulations affecting the Capture of Fish upon the Pearl Banks. 



Whenever a large deposit of young oysters be found on any of the pars, if there 

 be little suran present, I recommend that encouragement be given to fishermen 

 to go there and fish for Vellamin and Trigger-fish {Kilati) as these are the great 

 enemies of the pearl oyster at this age. 



Stone anchors should, however, be interdicted, and the use of grapnels or iron 

 anchors insisted on. 



At other times, except when the pearl oysters are in tbeir third year, 1 should 

 recommend fishing to be permitted with the one restriction regarding the non- 

 employment of stone anchors. 



When oysters on a bank approach maturity probably it would be advisable to 

 prohibit fishing— this chiefly for two reasons, the one being the danger of disturbance 

 of' the oysters, and the other that at this time sponge-eating fish (Holacanthus spp.), 

 Gymnodonts, Vellamin (Lethrinus spp.), and Trigger-fish perform a useful function in 

 devouring and helping to keep under various competing organisms, sponges, small 

 molluscs (suran and brood oysters), and crusting growths that overload and overrun 

 the valves of the older oysters. 



