430 J. HORN ELL ON 
Coming to our own days we find that according to the Bengal Customs returns 
the following are the declared values of chank shells imported into Calcutta during 
the past five years : — 
Table showing the Value of Imports of Chank Shells into Calcutta 
from 1905 to 1910. 
1905-06. 
1 
1906-07. 
1907-08. 
1908-09. 
1909-10. 
Rs. 
Rs. 
Rs. 
Rs. 
Rs. 
From Ceylon 
From Madras : — 
044,772 
1,89,280 
86,515 
1,81,223 
1,66,060 
Chief Port 
0583 
14,435 
324 
2,842 
1,648 
Other ports 
32,172 
21,622 
5,265 
52,399 
66,371 
Travancore 
114 
Nil. 
592 
Nil. 
500 
Bombay 
6,744 
13,730 
3,823 
2,305 
4,298 
Total 
1,85,385 
2,39,067 
96,519 
2,38,769 
2,38,877 
Except in respect of the Ceylon imports the weight of the shells unfortunately 
is not available. 
For Ceylon they are as follows : — 
Approximately. 
1905-06 
10,941 cwt. 
6,000 bags. 
1906-07 
15,125 ,, 
. . 8,000 ,, 
1907-08 
7,259 ,, 
.. 4,000 ,, 
1908-09 
15,962 ,, 
. . 8,500 ,, 
1909-10 
12,480 ,, 
.. 6,500 ,, 
Approximate annual average 
6,600 bags of 250 shells each 
For our purpose it is of importance to know the number of shells from each pro- 
ducing district ; after careful consideration of the comparative statistics given above 
taken in conjunction with information gleaned when in Ceylon and from men in the 
trade in Calcutta, and with the exact knowledge we have of the Madras production, 
I am able to state with comparative certainty that the imports into Bengal for all 
practical purposes may be estimated to average 21 lakhs per annum divided as to 
origin thus : — 
Ceylon 
1,650,000 
shells 
Tuticorin 
250,000 
y y 
Rameswaram 
150,000 
y y 
Other sources 
50,000 
y y 
Total . 
2,100,000 
shells 
