and this was the real -purport of their combinations and proceedings at the fisheries of 1857 and 1858.
There
is one special subject in connection with the Pearl Banks, which 1
think deserves consideration and trial, and which had the opportunity
offered during my term of office, I should have given, viz., the
removal or transplanting of beds of young oysters to the evidently more
protected and favoured grounds of the Cheral and Modragam Paars. That
this may be done without injury to the pearl oyster, I am satisfied
from the proof I have had of its tenacity of life. The practice of
transplanting the edible oysters to more favoured localities is very
common in England, and has of late, years been most extensively and
successfully carried out by the French Government in the formation of
oyster grounds along different parts of the French Coasts. As an
experiment, and as the most likely means of saving the oysters from the
causes which have hitherto so generally befallen all other broods but
those found in the Cheval and Modragam, it is worth the trial, and
should be attempted on the first favourable occasion that offers, of a
healthy bed, say of one or two years old, sufficiently near to the
Cheval or Modragam, to allow of their being taken up and re-deposited
the same day in water. A sufficient quantity should be left on the
original ground to test their progress with those removed.
I
do not entertain the opinion generally expressed as to the Pearl Banks
being robbed, and the necessity for a steamer constantly to guard,
them. The majority of the. banks are distant from S to 12 miles from
shore, and the land-marks by which their positions are ascertained
cannot be seen from small boats; and if robberies had really been
affected either by parties of Ceylon or the Coast of India, rumour
would certainly have afforded actual proof, as oysters can neither be
removed nor opened in a concealed manner, and the display for sale of
quantities of pearls by the class of persons thus having them would
have led to detection. Xo proof of robbery has ever been asserted or
afforded; but because it is supposed to be easy of accomplishment,
which I do not admit, the supposition has been received as a fact. I
believe the fishermen who fish along the X. W. Coast during the N. E.
monsoon do much harm to some of the banks by the use of large drag
nets. This sort of fishery within the precincts of the Pearl Banks is
illegal, and a party lately arrested whilst so fishing, by Mr. Worsley
the Supervisor, having been punished, will, with frequent inspection of
their boats and nets by the Supervisor, check such proceedings; but an
amendment of the law is necessary, and also an efficient guard during
the N. E. monsoon; and I consider this service can be well performed by
the Schooner "Ceylon" lately obtained from England, and the former
guard boat. During the S. W. monsoon the Arippo Coast is a dangerous
lee-shore, near to which no vessel will venture," and nature is thus a
most effectual guardian of the Pearl Banks during many months of the
year. A steamer's movements might be quicker, but she cannot, as the
two guard boats may keep watch upon two points of the Coast at the same
time, nor could she overtake a fishing canoe; she could bring her to,
with a gun, or run her ashore, both of which the boats can do, and the
latter more effectually.
The
favourable season for this work is the N. E. monsoon more particularly
the month of March, and whenever there is no Pearl Fishery, the whole
coast between Negombo and Manaar should again, as in 1862, be examined
to see if the small bed of young oysters then found off Negombo is
alive and increasing, or if the banks off Chilaw, Calpentyn. and
Karativo give any promise. This service might be done in the fine
weather of January and" February by Mr. Worsley with the schooner and
the English and Native divers. Owing to the fisheries of the last five
years occupying the fine weather of February to April, inspections have
of necessity taken place between the end of October and middle of November in the lull of weather
