( 8 ) 
19. On the Chilaw Paar a bed of young oysters from six to nine months old was found. 
The area of the bed is about 1,120,000 square yards. 
20. On the Ooloowitti Paar a small bed of young oysters from six to nine months old, and on 
the Negombo Paar also a small bed of young oysters from six to nine months old was found. On the 
new rocky bed which I discovered last year a few scattered patches of young oysters about six 
months old were found. 
21. In regard to the prospects of future pearl fisheries the present condition of the Cheval 
and Muttnvaratu Paars is very favourable, and these two banks are likely to yield two fisheries each 
during the next four years. On the east side of the Cheval the oysters are more advanced than those 
on the west side, and although they will not be fully ripe for fishing in March next year, yet in view 
of the west side of the Cheval being likely to yield a large fishery in March, 1904, and the 
Muttnvaratu Paar a fishery in March, 1905 and 1906, the fishing of the East Cheval next year seems 
to be unavoidable. 1 would, however, recommend a sample of 2li,000 oysters be lifted from it in the 
early part of next November, say, 10,000 from the south part of East Cheval and 10,000 from the 
north part, and the valuation of the pearls of that sample would determine whether it would be 
possible to fish the bank next year or not, 
22. During this inspection I had tha pleasure of the company of my successor Mr. Legge, 
who has made himself thoroughly acquainted with my method of inspecting the pearl banks and of 
the landmarks to which compass bearings are taken in finding the various banks. 
23. I annex for facility of reference a tabulated statement of the pearl banks on which beds 
of oysters have been found, and of the area of the beds of oysters and the estimated number of 
oysters upon them, 
I am, &c., 
J. DONNAN, 
Inspector of Pearl Banks. 
Tabular Statement showing the Names of the Banks on which Pearl Oysters were found 
during the Inspection of March, 1902, the Area of the Beds of Oysters, 
and the Number of Oysters estimated to be on them. 
Area of Bed of 
Estimated 
Name of Bank. Oysters in Square Number of Oysters 
Yards. on the Bank. 
Cheval Paar (east side) ... 11,804,676 ... 74,413,000 ... 
Cbeval Paar (west side) ... 10,500,050 ... 123,357,592 ... 
Moderagam Paar (north and south) — ... — 
Periya Paar Karrai ... 1,232,250 ... 21,477,000 ... 
Periya Paar ... ... "Very large ... — 
Outer Vankali Paar ... 345,000 ... 8,450,000 ... 
Karaitivu Paar ... ... 1,570,850 ... 25,330,000 ... 
KondatohiPaar ... ... 444,375 ... 5,739,000 ... 
AlanturaPaar ... ... 1,060,000 ... 11,925,000 ... 
Muttuvaratu Paar ... 10,206,725 ... 277,000,000 ... 
Jokenpiddi Paar .. ... Small bed ... — 
Chilaw Paar ... ... Small bed ... — 
Ooloowitti Paar ... ... Small bed ... — 
Negombo Paar ... ... Small bed ... — 
New I'aar off Negombo ... A few scattered 
patches ... — 
Age of 
Remarks as to 
Oysters. 
future Prospects. 
3 years . 
. Very good 
3 years . 
. Very good 
. Young oysters 
3 years . 
. Very good 
. Young oysters 
. Not reliable 
. Very good 
.. Very good 
. Very good 
.. Very good 
.. Young oysters 
.. Young oysters 
.. Young oysters 
.. Young oysters 
,, Young oysters 
Total 
