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the work daily with Captain Donnan and Mr. Legge. Later on we were joined by Sir William 
Twynam from JaflEna, That gave a unique opportunity of hearing from these two veteran inspectors 
and investigators about the former condition of the various banks and of the past history of the 
pearl fisheries. 
During this cruise the early morning and forenoon were usually occupied in following the 
operations of the divers, and in examining and recording the material brought up from different 
parts of the various " Paars." About midday, when the divers ceased work, we started off in the 
"Lady Havelock " to dredge the neighbouring grounds between the oyster banks, or on parts of the 
Paar in regard to which we wanted further information. In this way, beginning in the north of the 
district of Arippu, we examined the large and important East and West Cheval banks and the Periya 
Paar and several smaller banks lying some to the north and some to the south. 
We also, when in that neighbourhood, landed at various parts of the coast in the endeavour to 
find a suitable spot for a small Marine Laboratory, from which oyster culture and experiments could 
be conducted. We tried Mannar, Arippu, Chilavaturai, Kodramallai, and later on the shores of 
Portugal and Dutch Bays, but without success. We could find no spot on the shores of the Gulf of 
Mannar that seemed suitable for the purpose, and none certainly with the natural advantages 
of fialle. 
On several occasions we, in the " Lady Havelock," left Capt. Donnan and the barques for a 
couple of days in order to run lines of dredgings across some of the deeper or more remote parts of 
the region, especially to the north and west. 
We then moved south to the Paars ofl: Kodramallai Point, and left Captain Donnan on 19th 
March, as it was desirable that Mr. Hornell and I should now proceed to Galleto make the necessary 
arrangements as to establishing a laboratory there. On the way south we examined again the beds 
off Chilaw and off Negombo, and arrived at Colombo on the evening of Tliursday, 20th March. 
The general result of this second cruise, and of the inspection of the banks with Captain 
Donnan, was to confirm our former work and show that there is really an abundance of oystei's on the 
banks, although probably the greater number are upon ground wh^re they cannot grow to maturity. 
We were able to demonstrate these points and others, such as the microscopic food and eggs of the 
oysters, to our companions Sir W. Twynam, Captain Donnan, and Mr. Lngge, and to discuss them 
fully and exchange views. All these served to reinforce and establish our former opinion that the 
chief remedial measure which ought to be adopted in the interests of the fisheries is the regular trans- 
plantation of young oysters from grounds such as the Perij'a Paar, where they are deposited as spat, 
but where, if left, they seem to be doomed for the most part to perish, to suitable hard bottoms about 
the Chevals and the Paars further south. 
A number of experiments* that we made in our wooden tanks on board both the barque and 
the " Lady Havelock," and also in the sea water baths of the steamer, showed us that there ought to 
be no great difBoulty in carrying out the transplantation without any serious mortality of oysters. 
There are some points which are evidently of considerable practical importance to determine in 
connection with the matter, such as the best size of oyster to transplant, and the right season of the 
year (October or March) for the operation. Also whether only young oysters that are attached to 
movable objects can be used, or whether byssus that has been cut or torn can be replaced without 
weakening the animal. Upon these and several allied questions Mr. Hornell will continue to experi- 
ment, and will report progress to me from time to time. 
It was now necessary to make definite arrangements about Mr. Hornell's laboratory, and Galle 
having been decided on as the most suitable spot, and preliminaries having been arranged with the 
Lieatenant-Governor by correspondence, it seemed desirable that I should see for myself the various 
quarters that had been proposed, and advise Mr. Hornell as to any necessary alterations and fittings. 
We took with us some samples of living oysters, both large (three years old) and small (6 months), 
which were conveyed safely in large " chatties " of sea water by steamer and train from Mannar to 
Galle, a journey occupying with our necessary stoppages four complete days. We were, however, able 
to deposit most of these oysters in a living condition in the sea at Galle on the evening of 22nd March. 
They soon recovered activity, and were found next day climbing about the chatties and netting in 
which they were confined. 
The next three days were spent at Galle in examining offices and bungalows in the Fort, in 
the native bazaar, and near Bayley's Villa on Glossenberg. In the end certain conclusions were 
arrived at, which have already been reported to the Lieutenant-Governor, and have I believe been 
acted upon, the result being that Mr. Hornell is now established in Galle, carrying on the work which 
I left in his hands. I shi.ll hear from him at frequent intervals, and shall send him fresh instructions 
from time to time as may be necessary. The results of Mr. Hornell's work will be given in our 
next report. 
After having settled matters at Galle so far as was then possible, Mr. Hornell and I returned to 
Colombo and then took coach to Chilaw, and from there by boat we reached the more southerly pearl 
banks off Karaitivu, where we rejoined Captain Donnan on the barque. Mr. Hornell remained till 
the end of the inspection, and I was there from 28th March till 4th April, when I had to return to 
Colombo in the " Serendib " in order to leave for England on the 7th. 
During that final week on the pearl banks I took part in Captain Donnan's inspection of the 
banks off Dutch Bay, and also carried on experimental laboratory work with Mr. Hornell. I also took 
the opportunity of talking over the practical details of the transplantation of young oysters with 
Mr. Legge, and I am convinced that he and Mr. Hornell, or Mr. Hornell acting for Mr. Legge in the 
matter, would have no difficulty in laying out some millions of young oysters from the Periyar Paar 
upon the Cheval Paars, or other suitable ground, at the next visit to the banks. 
There are many detailed points bearing upon the life and health of the pearl oyster and upon 
the ravages made by its enemies, which I have not mentioned in this preliminary report, but which 
* The particulars of these and other experiments will be give* in our final report. 
