Abstract
THE administrative report of the Marine Biologist of Ceylon (Dr. Joseph Pearson) for 1932 shows that the work of the Department has been greatly restricted for lack of funds. No oysters were seen on the pearl banks during the January-March survey. All the potential paar areas are surveyed at least once in three years. The isolated patches of young oysters found in the Gulf of Manaar show little promise for fisheries in the near future. The window-pane oyster fishery in Lake Tamblegam should do well if no fishery is held this year and provided that no abnormally heavy rains occur during the intervening north-west monsoon. There are also oysters in the lake which should be fishable in 1936 and 1937, and as there are many brood oysters the chances of new spat falls are hopeful. The chank fishery was carried on in the Palk Strait but the average of chanks exported was much less in 1931-32 than in 1930. With regard to the development of the fishery industry, there is still the question of modern boats and gear. It is now proposed to enlist the services of a master fisherman skilled in small boat fishing with modern apparatus, for the purpose of making initial investigations, and to train a local crew in the proper use of the boat and gear, instead of appointing a new marine superintendent who would not be so skilled in this type of work. It is also proposed to purchase a small boat, suitable for the use of the fishermen, to serve as a model for adoption. The purchase of this boat would, however, not be possible until the investigations have been carried far enough to indicate the type most suitable.
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Ceylon Fisheries. Nature 132, 889 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/132889b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/132889b0