28 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X, 



The number of oysters obtained at each dive depends, of 

 course, upon whether the oysters are in plenty together, and 

 the nature of the ground : if very rocky, the oysters are not 

 so easily detached and picked up. I have known of eighty ; 

 but forty to fifty is very good, and would give over twenty 

 thousand as a day's fishing. At the fishery of 1857, when the 

 total yield was over thirty -two million of oysters, and the 

 daily yield from one to one and a half million, some boats 

 brought loads of thirty to forty thousand. 



At 12 or 1 o'clock, according as the sea breeze sets in, the 

 Inspector fires the signal gun to leave off fishing. Soon every 

 boat is under sail for Salapatturai, racing to be first in and 

 discharged at the Government koddu, as this is recorded, 

 and gives consideration for employment during extra days ; 

 then the first discharged gets, of course, first sale and best 

 prices for the oysters they care to sell instead of wash. 



Between 3 and 4 o'clock the boats are in, and discharging 

 their oysters into the Government koddu — a very large space 

 on the beach, enclosed by a wall of thick sticks, within 

 which are marked out matted spaces bearing the number of 

 each boat. The crew deposit the loads therein, and the divers 

 arrange and divide the oysters into four lots. The Govern- 

 ment officer in charge of the koddu awards one of each four 

 divisions, and as the diver does not know which of the four 

 heaps may be assigned, they very fairly divide the oysters. 

 They take their shares away, and the remaining three shares 

 are at once heaped together, and counted by men specially 

 paid for this very hard and trying work to the hands. When 

 the counting is finished, a return of the Government share of 

 each boat, and the total of the day's fishing for sale, is made 

 to the Superintendent. 



Sale and Delivery of Oysters. 



A sale is held daily as the Kachcheri, by the Superinten- 

 dent putting up the oysters in lots of one thousand, with the 

 right of the buyer to take at the price knocked down from 



