Coral and the Co7^al Fisheries. 461 



fluctuations in the annual quantity received. The following 

 are the comparative annual figures : — 





lbs. 



1^55 



4,175 



1856 



16,358 



1857 



2,118 



1858 



2,882 



1859 



4,831 



i860 



... 3,105 



I80I 



... 16,385 



1502 



2,742 



1863 



1,087 



1864 



... 4,821 



1865 



3,563 



1866 



... 4,947 



1867 



7,879 



1868 



... 8,106 



1869 



6,529 



1870 



... 2,670 



The Indian trade in coral in 1875 shows a very slight 

 decrease on that of 1873-74, when it amounted to £66f)'^<^ ; 

 but it is slowly recovering from the depression of previous 

 years, that depression having, it is believed, been partly 

 caused by the imposition of a duty of j\ per cent, in April, 

 1870. The value of the imports was as follows : — 



1868- 69 ;^93,I26 



1869- 70 65,285 



1870- 71 ... ... ... ... 45,441 



1871- 72 ... ... ... ... 54,894 



1872- 73 ... ... ... ... 40,013 



1873- 74 ... ... ... ••■ 66,689 



1874- 75 ■ 53,558 



Though the imposition of the duty probably had an 

 immediate effect in reducing the importations, it must be 

 remarked that the trade is of a variable and fluctuating 

 nature. It is mainly in the hands of a few foreign firms, 

 from whom natives purchase the coral for sale in the 

 interior at great fairs and religious gatherings. Coral forms 



