The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-05-28

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thousands Of tons Of cultch have 10
be dumped. The monSoons prevent
this work from the middle Of May to
the middle Of October.
Four or five months before the sea-
son commences the banks are inspect
ed to determine whether there shall
be a fishery and to estimate the ey-
tent Of the yield. This has revealed
the presence Of over 4O0.OO0,O 900
young oysters upon the periva Paar
karai, which Is 4 continuation of the
famous Periya Paar Itself. from
which the greatest yields Of cestodes
have been gathered during the past
5000 years. This small sized. profi-
table and reliable bank lies at depth
Of from 80 to ii feet and about the
Limit Of the capabilities Of the ma
tive diver, and probably for this rea-
son it has not received the attention
in the past that its yield would sug-
geSt.
The company also first exploited
the banks known as the Dutch Modra-
gam, Karativu and Allanturai areas.
They had previously proved so poor
that they became neglected. They
were inspected in 1904, but were
found Of no value. A second survey
was undertaken with the result that
a fishery was effected that year which
otherwise would have proved barren.
Ih netted the Ceylon govememnt
100000. In 1907 these banks yield
ed a gross revenue Of $350,000.
The fishery is generally carried out
in March or April. A short time be-
fore this final survey is made and
samples of oysters are tested for their
yield. If satisfactory the news is an
nounced that a fishery will be held.
It spreads like wildfre not only
through Ceylon itself but the whole
Of India, Malay and up to the Per-
sian Gulf, and the natives in these
district hurry to the island. A shanty
town springs up at Marichchukkadi
at the mouth Of the Modragam river.
1t is inaccessible, practically vacant
and neglected, but in the season it is
the hub Of exciteemnt. Streets of
primitive dwellings, fashioned Of bam-
boo poles with a roof of palm leaves
spring up to accommodate some 49,
900 natives, relieved by one or two
bungalows in which agents and Off
cials reside. The seafront becomes
crowded with fleet Of boats, some
crazy and fragile, other large, roomy
and stoutly built, drawn up in one
long line at anchor. Under govern
ment control no limit was placed up
on the number Of vessels, but now Sc
we're restrictions are imposed in order
to curtail undue competition.
At this time the weather is most
propitious. The sea is calm, especial
ly during the day. Everything is
carried out in methodical manner ac--
cording to a strict schedule. A sig
nal gun is fred about midnight and
directly a frightful din arises from
the raucous banging Of tomtoms and
other weird and discordant instru-
ments beating the boat crews and div
ers to quarters. The keenest excite
ment prevails as some 300 boats strive
to first reach the oyster paars.
Each boat carries native divers at
tired in a crude loin cloth. The div
er closes his, nostrils with a piece of
horn and equipped with a net bag in
which he gathers his oysters he drops
over the side and quickly slides down
a rope to the bed. When his bag is
full he gives a sharp tug Of line and
is quickly hauled to the surface,
where he discharges his haul and re-
descends. These men can remain un-
der water from one to one and half
minutes and they seldom come to tine
surface without full load. The oys-
ters are placed in bags, averaged to
a common size and sealed by an Of
ticer.
A careful watch is kept on short
upon the weather and directly the
wind changes the signal is given and
Immediately the fleet sets sail and
races home. The return Of the fleet
is one Of the most picturesque sights
in the Orient. A considerable trade
was formerly transacted in pllfered
gems, but owing to the stringent pre-
cautions adopted now and the contin-
nal presence of an official on board