12 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
(July i, 1890 . 
often completely disappear. On the various moot points 
connected with the history of the pearl oyster Mr. 
Thurston is able to give some valuable information. 
Referring to the theory which attributes the occurrence 
of pearls to the presence of parasitic worms in the oyster, 
he states that out of many hundred oysters which he ex- 
amined in a few only were these worms present. He 
mentions that the attempts made in Ceylon to artificially 
cultivate the pearl-oyster have failed, but as to the causes 
which produced this result or which so frequently pre- 
vent the young oyster from attaining maturity, he has 
no certain conotusion to offer. “ The life of the pearl- 
oyster,” he observes, “ must be a struggle not only 
during the time at which it leads a wandering exist- 
ence on the surface and is at the mercy of pelagic 
organisms, but even after it has settled down on the 
bottom, where it is liable to be eaten up by fishes, 
holotburians, molluscs etc., or washed away from its 
moorings by currents ; and comparatively few out of a 
large tall of ‘ spat ’ on a bank can reach maturity even 
under the most favourable conditions. Not, in fact, 
till a bank is thickly covered with oysters two years’ 
old can any hope be held out that it will eventually 
yield a fishery.” 
The paper of most scientific importance included in 
Mr. Thurston’s brochure is undoubtedly that entitled 
“ Fauna of the Gulf of Manaar.” The region thus 
designated is the gulf, or bay dividing the extreme 
south of the Indian Peninsular from Ceylon and con- 
tinued eastward, after passing Adam’s Bridge, by Palk 
Strait. Lists are given of the sponges, corals, echinor 
derms, Crustacea, molluscs, etc., collected by Mr. 
Thurston, and among them is enumerated a consider- 
able number hitherto unknown to science. As might 
be expected the fauna greatly resembles that of the 
neighbouring island ol Ceylon, but in a large number of 
cases species which had previously bean recorded from 
widely different regions were discovered, and their 
geographiciT range thus greatly extended. It does not 
appear that Mr. Thurston has been lucky enough to 
make any “find” of economic interest. None, he 
says, of the 31 sponges collected in the Gulf of Manaar 
are of any commercial value, and though he picked 
up several fragments of the red coral of commerce on 
the Pamban beach he seems to doubt whether they 
were not accidental occurrences. Among the stony 
corals collected he mentions one (Heteropsammia 
coohlea) in which a certain worm is always found living; 
the advantage which either animal derives from this 
association is unknown, but, as Mr. Thurston observes, 
some must exist, fcr a coral is never found without a 
goorm. A similar parasite occurred in cue of the Gor- 
winae, the stems of which were marked by diseased 
excrescences, or galls, inhabited by a Cirrhiped crust- 
acean. Ihese excrescences were perforated by an 
orifice, through which currents of water necessary for 
the respiration of the crustacean were admitted, the 
stream passing constantly in the same direction. Among 
the fishes the most characteristic feature of the fauna 
was the prevalence of the so-called coral fishes, being 
for the most part brightly coloured species which live 
over the coral reefs and feed either on the small delicate 
marine invertebrates which swarm on the living corals, 
or, if their teeth are adapted for the purpose, on the 
soft parts of molluscs, which they extract by gnawing 
or boring holes in the shell. 
■\Ve have not space to follow Mr. Thurston’s 
interesting description of the wealth of animal 
life to be found in the waves of these tropical 
waters, the Medusae sometimes present in such 
numbers that the net became instantly filled 
with a thick jelly, the crustaceans rendering the sur- 
face of the water milky, the extensive banks of 
Alcyonian.s “ of the luxuriant growth and size of 
which only a very feeble idea is obtained from speci- 
mens in Mu.seums.” Nor can we refer in detail to the 
very full account of Eamesvaram Island which is 
ooulaiucd in another article. The paper on the chank 
fishery of Tuticorin tells m that about 200,000 of 
these shells, realising some K 10,000 are unusually 
fished near the port of Tiilicoriii. The shells are 
sold by auctions and arc used for various purposes, 
such as olfering libations and as musical instrumonts 
in temples, as armlets, bracelets, and other ornaments. 
A right-handed chank, i.e, one which has its spiral 
opening to the right, is much prized. Such a shell 
is said to have sometimes fetched a lakh of rupees, 
and in sober fact one is stated to have been sold in 
1887 for B700. Dr. Thurston’s note on the pearls 
derived from the Mytilus and Plaouna does not suggest 
the probability of the trade in these mollcsos ever rivall- 
ing the fisheries of the Indian pearl oyster — (Avioula 
fucata,) but it gives some curious information on the 
present condition of the industry. Indeed, the whole 
of the pamphlet is full of interesting matter, and 
it can be recommended to all who want to know 
something of South Indian pearlfishing, or of the 
marine fauna of the Presidency. — JII. Mail, May 2nd. 
^ 
THE CINNAMON INDUSTRY. 
Kadirana, May 21st. 
The rise in the price in the cinnamon at the 
London sales of the 19th instant, as telegraphed 
by Reuter, though only ^d to Id per lb and that 
on the lower sorts, is so far good news, and points 
I hope to a further rise at the August sales ; for 
by then the [effects of the partial stoppage of the 
exportation of chips should begin to bo fell. Cut- 
ting for the new season has commenced on most 
estates ; and now perhaps will arise the temptation to 
some — I hope there are none, who consented not to 
scrape chips, — to try and evade the agreement. Asa 
rule two-thirds to three-fourths of the crop for the year 
is secured during the Maha Mosama, that is between 
May and November, and the pruning and preparation 
of chips finished by the end of December. Very 
little pruning is done before August, so that but 
a small quantity of chips of the new season will 
be exported before then. If therefore between 
August and next February there is a marked 
diminution in the quantity exported, as compared 
with the same months last year, it will be a proof 
that the agreement is being honourably carried out; 
if on the other hand there is no very sensible 
difference it will be as strong a proof the other way. 
I still believe that with very few exceptions those 
who signed the agreement intend faithfully to 
abide by it. 
The rainfall in this district up to this morning 
is only 1-42 on seven days. All this has been 
from the north east, but this evening a heavy 
squall came from the south ; and for the first 
time this year I notioe the clouds scudding from 
the west. There are ominous multerings and grow- 
lings in the direction of the hills, so I suppose 
there will be a battle soon and the south-west 
enter on possession for six months. It seems a 
strange time for trees to blossoms, but I notice 
many forest trees in bloom, and some in young 
foliage ; conspicuous amongst those in bloom is the 
“ milla” which is quite a pretty sight. The 
cinnamon bushes are out in “ bud ” which 
may interfere with peeling a little later on. 2Iad 
0'58 of rain last evening. 
^ 
PAPER-LINING FOR TEA-BOXES. 
Some time ago we gave a good deal of inform- 
ation about a specially prepared paper to supersede 
tea-lead for chests — being of course much lighter 
and cheaper. This was brought under our notice 
by Mr. Maitland-Kirwan who in fact, first intro- 
duced the paper into the East. Before be left 
this gentleman sent us a full chest of tea packed 
in his paper to send home to our agents, in order 
to teat the suitableness of the new packing. This 
mail brings ua the London report on the same. 
Mr, John Haddon who, of course, knows nothing 
