oct. — dec. 1857.] Pearl Oyster Fishery. 



109 



This Oyster, having no byssus, is not attached to any hard sub- 

 stance ; nor is it cemented, like some of the edible Oysters, by the 

 hinge, or by one of the valves, to any subject, but lies either flat 

 on the mud, or is fixed loosely in a semi-vertical position, with the 

 wedge-shaped hinge buried in the mud. It follows, therefore, that 

 they can be removed with great facility with the ordinary Oyster 

 dredge. 



The young Oysters taken by the dredge can be returned imme- 

 diately to the lake ; or collected and then deposited in some suita- 

 ble place, previously selected by the supervisor. 



I have no doubt, in my own mind, that by proper supervision and 

 care, the Tamblegam lake Oyster Fishery, may be made to yield in 

 a few years, at least £1,500 every second year. For the last 18 

 years, the average annual revenue to Government was only £344. 



In order to secure this revenue for future years, it is necessary 

 that the present renter's proceedings be watched ; and, that he be 

 obliged strictly to observe the condition of his bond, viz : " That 

 the Fishery of the said Pearl banks shall be carefully and prudently 

 carried on by the Renter and others, his servants, so as to cause no 

 damage or injury to the said Pearl banks." 



If, in the opinion of the Government, the above condition does 

 not enjoin the renter to prevent divers taking up young Oysters, I 

 think it will be worth while to pay him £50 or more, and take his 

 lease from him ; for at the rate he is now fishing, and bringing up 

 daily 5,000 or 6,000 young Oysters, scarcely more than eight months 

 old, and which cannot yield more than six-pence worth of Pearl in 

 each thousand, even if they do that, the bank, which now promises 

 to give a tolerably good fishery in June 1859, may, like the Natcha 

 Cooda bank, be unproductive for many years. I would therefore 

 suggest, that a Government Officer be immediately sent to the 

 fishery to prevent further mischief being done. 



I cannot help again observing in this Report, that it is worthy 

 the attention of Government, to stock the various salt lakes of Cey- 

 lon with this species of Oyster. The lakes of Calpentyn, Putlam, 

 Batticaloa and Hambantotte, if stocked with the " Window Oys- 

 ter," will yield a very handsome revenue. I have availed myself 



