The
local headquarters of the industry are at Mergui, but most of the
supplies are drawn from Maulmain and Rangoon, or from the more distant
Singapore, where the industry is financed. The season extends from
October to April or May, when the southwest monsoon begins and puts a
stop to the fishery on this exposed coast.
The
boats used are mostly of Burmese build. They measure from 25 to 35 feet
in length, and 7 or 8 feet in width, and have 18 to 24 inches of draft,
with curved or half-moon shaped keels, and with high square sterns.
Owing to the very light draft and the amount of free-board, they are
deficient in weatherly qualities ; but are fast sailors before the wind
and are easily rowed from place to place. For this reason they are
especially suited to the industry in Mergui, because during the
pearling season calms and light winds prevail and oars form the
principal motive power, especially in the channels and passageways
between the islands where the tides are frequently very swift.
If
a number of boats are of the same ownership, a schooner of thirty to
one hundred tons' capacity is commonly provided as a floating station
and base of supplies for them; the gathering of such a fleet
