As many as twelve shell craft Industries established at KeelaVaral and Ramaswaram cater to the demand

of the internal and external market of ornamental shells in India and abroad. Several species of molluscan

shells which occur in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay constitute the raw materials for these industries.

Apart from very rare SPECISS, 15 important species are regularly exploited for this purpose. The Genus

/.a/n^/s commonly known as 'Spider conch' is very Important among them by virtue of its abundance. Of

the 9 species of Lambis known from India, only 3 species art abundant in this coast Exploitation of these

shells are mostly by skin diving and to a limited extent by trawl, gill and drag nets employed mainly to

catch finfishes, lobsters and crabs.

This paper mainly deals on the ornamental, curious and religious values of molluscan shells, their

Industry, types of shells and species used by the industry, varied products, marketing, employment opportunities

and certain aspects of costs and earning of the industry

Natarajan, P

Ramadoss, K

Sivalingam, D

Thillairajan, P

CMFRI Digital Repository

2 1 . ORNAMENTAL SHELL INDUSTRY OF RAMANATHAPURAM COAST p. Natarajan, K. Ramadoss, D. Sivalingam and P. Thillairajan Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin-682 031 ABSTRACT As many as twelve shell craft Industries established at KeelaVaral and Ramaswaram cater to the demand of the internal and external marl<et of ornamental shells in India and abroad. Several species of molluscan shells which occur in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay constitute the raw materials for these industries. Apart from very rare SPECISS, 15 important species are regularly exploited for this purpose. The Genus /.a/n^/s commonly known as'Spider conch' is very Important among them by virtue of its abundance. Of the 9 species of Lambis known from India, only 3 species art abundant in this coast Exploitation of these shells are mostly by skin diving and to a limited extent by trawl, gill and drag nets employed mainly to catch finfishes, lobsters and crabs. This paper mainly deals on the ornamental, curious and religious values of molluscan shells, their Industry, types of shells and species used by tne industry, varied products, marketing, employment opport-unities and certain aspects of costs and earning of the industry. INTRODUCTION Important molluscan shell landing centres were visited once in a week to collect data on the Eye catching, striking contrast colour pattern ^^^^^^ ^^ collections, fishing methods, fishing and varied shapes are the features which have . . . ,. , . , ^ . . aroused the curiosity of man towards the ^'^' " ' " P ' " ^ " ^ ^"'^ ^'^'^'"9 9 '°""ds. Enquiries molluscan shells. The initial curiosity lead to ^" ' '^ ' "^^^ ^^ ^^^ manufacturing centres on the finding out many ways of usefulness of these details of articles made and their cost. Chank shells starting from using them initially as '^"^^'"9 data were collected both from shell vessels for keeping food and water to using industry and Tamil Nadu State Fisheries them as ornaments of high value. The Ramana- Department, thapuram coast is a rich area inhabited by just common species of molluscs as well as hard to SHELL INDUSTRY get species of high rarity. Majority of the ^, . ^ •> . _. . u j- -j j ,, • »u * u u * J II The entire shell industry may be divided molluscan species that have been reported all , . . . , ^, .u » . « I J- I ^. into 1) the raw material production 2) product-along the south east coast of India are known ' . ' to occur in Ramanathapuram coast. The ' » " °f ornamental shells and shell products availability of a variety of shells in good abund- and 3) marketing. ance has led t o the development o f a typical . . . . , . , , . . . * i / i i „ i „ j Raw material production The raw materia s ornamental shell industry at Keelakarai and ^ Rameswaram. It is realised that documenting include the shells of different shapes and sizes various aspects of this industry is highly belonging to the following genera Oliva, essential for the proper development of the Cypraea, Natica. Cerithidea, Pterocera. Gafrarium, industry. Strombus, Babylonia, Conus, Murex, Cymatium, Turco, Merita, Marpa, Turbinella Lambis, Pyrene, MATERIAL AND METHODS Umbonium, Dentalium, Area, Velata, Littorina, Periodical visits were made to important ^ ^ ' « ' Fistularia. Traphezium. Fusinus. Cymbium, shell industry centres to collect data on different Cancellaria, Faciolaria, Turbinella. Cassis, Bursa, species of molluscs used in industry, places of Phalium, Tonna, Drupa, Buttia, Thais etc. Among collection, specieswise cost, total number of these shells it is estimated that 1,75,000 shells manpower engaged in the industry, details of of 3 species of Lambis are fished annually and marketing through retail and wholesale outlets. each shell fetches Rs 1 to 3/- for the fisher-106 CMFRI men. The fishing for the chanks is the with a long pole called 'Arachal' or 'Kachan' monopoly of the State Government and the is done in areas like Devipatnam, Sundarama-merchants get the chanks when the catches dayan, Vedaiai, Marakkayarpatnam, Mandapam are auctioned by the Government every year. and Pamban to collect small sized gastropods like Pyrene during October to April every year. The methods of exploitation of these shells These nets are set at the bottom at 2 to 3 m depend on the size, behaviour and habitats in depth and dragged with the connected pole for which they occur and maybe divided i n t o l ) a distance of about 10 m by hand. Then the hand picking in shallow waters 2) skin diving net is lifted out of water and emptied of its in deeper waters 3) hand dredging and 4) by contents. The main aim of operating this net different types of nets. Moderately small shells js to exploitiny molluscan shells, whereas like Oliva and Cypraea are usually collected by other nets like gill nets such as bottom set hand picking in the intertidal rocky zone during gill net, nanduvalai and singivalai which are low tides. Exposed coastal muddy flats and employed to catch finfish, crabs and lobsters, near-by islands are the habitat wherein a ignd gastropods like Pterocera, Trochus etc. in variety of colourful dead shells and live good numbers as they are caught incidentally, specimens are collected during low tides. A wide variety of shells like chanks, species of Chanks, Turbinella pyrum are usually landed Gafrarium, Strombus, Babylonia, Conus, Murex, by skin diving done upto 20 m depth range in Cymbium, Harpa etc. form a portion of the by Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar. Hand dredging catch in trawl nets operated for shrimps and with a common type of triangular net fastened fish. TABLE 1. Procurement and sales-rate of corrimerclally important shells by shell industries of Keelakaral & Rameswaram Species Vernacular name Purchase rate Sales rate Quantity Turbinella pirum Sanku There are 11 sizes Rs 3/- to Rs. 50/- per piece viz. Fo: 0; 1,2,3,4, depending upon 5,6,7, AR and 8 the size. (Re 1 / - to Rs. 3/-depending upon the size) Pterocera lambis Aiviral Sanky Rs 1/- to Rs. 3/- Rs 2.50 to Rs. 5.00/-depending upon depending upon the size the size Umbonium vestiarlum Poochi Koodu Rs 1/- Rs 2/ - Per litre Oliva spp Kovanchu Rs 5/- Rs 15/- ,, Dentalium sp Vellai Mooku Rs 6/- Rs 8/-Arca spp Sippi/Kilinjal Rs1.50/- Rs 2/-Cymatium pileare Pillayar Sanku Rs 2/ - Rs 3/- per piece Tibia spp Ezuthani Rs 0.40/- Rs 0.75/-Babylonia spp Puramuttai Rs 2.00/- Rs 4.00/- per litre Conus spp Vazhvi Poo Rs 0-10/-to Rs 0.25/-to per piece RsO-75/- Rs1.50/-Cypraea spp Sozhi/Mani Mowri Rs 0.05/-to Rs 0.12/-to RsO.10/- Rs. 0.15/-BULLETIN42 107 Species Vernacular name Purchase rate Sales rate Quantity C0/7US spp (Glory of Vazhzi Poo Rs 100/-(This Rs 400/-India) shell is not polished; polished shell does not fetch good price) Strombus spp Veranjan Rs 0.40/- Rs 0.75/-Fistu/aria spf> Sihappu Mulli Rs0.15/- Rs 0.30/-Trapzium sp Kuthurai IVlulli Rs l .50/ - Rs 2.00/-Fusinus sp Vellai Chaval Rs0.30/- Rs 0.40/-Harpa sp Sarpa Koodu Rs 2.00/- Rs 2-50/-Cymbium melo Suvappu pathiram Rs 3.00 to Rs6 toRs. 10/-Rs 5.00/- depending upon depending upon the size the size Cancel/araia spp — Rs 4.00 Rs 6.00 per litre Fascio/ar/a spp — Rs0.15 Rs 0.25/- per piece Mures rmosus Yanai IVlulli Rs 3 to Rs. 10/- Rs 5/- to 25-00 M. florifer Karuppu Kullai Rs 1 / - to Rs. 2/- Rs 3/- to Rs. 5.00 M. muteramos/s Katta sanku RsO.10/- Rs 0.25 M. triremis „ Rs 0.50 to Rs 1.00 Rs 1.00 to Rs. 3.00 M. haustelium Vellai Poodu M.adj'ustus Karupplu Mulli Pterocera Chiragra Aru viral sanku Rs 1 / - to Rs. 4/- Rs 5/- to Rs 15/-P. aurantia Silanthi sanku Rs 1/-to Rs. 2/- Rs 2/- to Rs 5/-Cassis madagascarensis Mattu Thalai Rs 10/-to Rs 30/- Rs 30/- to Rs. 50.00 Cypraea reticulata Sozhi Rs 1/- to Rs 1.50 Rs 2/- to Rs 4-00 C. talpa Anil sozhi Rs 2.00/- to Rs. 4.00/- to Rs. 6.00 „ Rs 3.00 Operculum of Turbo Ravanan Vizhin Rs 3-00/- to Rs. 6/- to per liter Rs. 5/. Rs. 10.00 Shell divers, shell collectors, beach procured from Tuticorin, Cuddalore, Andaman combers and those who collect shells from and Nicobar Islands. On an average Rs 4,00,000 boats and launches sell their collections either of raw materials are used in the industry, to shell procurers who act as agents of shell industry or directly to the shell processors in ^^^" /"'ocess//7flr the industry. Different species of molluscan After drying the shells in the open for 3 to shells, their procurement rate and market rate 5 days, they are soaked in fresh water for 2 to of finished product by the shell industry are 5 days in cement tanks, depending on the size given in Table 1. The important centres where and quantity of the shells. This enables remo-the shells are processed are Pamban, Manda- yal of dirt and decayed soft parts of the pam, Vedalai, Periapattinam, Devipattinam, animals. Then the shells, whether big or small Thirupalakkudi, Mullimunai, Karankadu, Thondi are placed in bleaching powder solution or and Sethubavachathiram. Shell are also being bleaching liquid for 24 h in cement tanks 108 CMFRi constructed for this purpose, followed by GENERAL REMARKS immersing the shells in caustic soda solution in another tank for one h. Depending on the ^^^ ecological habitat surrounding Manda-.. • I I J ••» t ^L. L .1 pam-Rameswaram coastal belt is ideally suited thickness, colour and quantity of the shells, T "D.ny ., I- 1 . I 11 • . . 'or the settlement and growth of a variety of they are polished by allowing them to remain , . . . a " vui u. a va.ioiy u. ir. Ko/ u.,H,„„kT ,;„ „ J * irt -1 * gastropod and bivalve shell species. The island in 5% Hydrochloric acid from 10 seconds to • ,. « , 4 minutes system m the Gulf of Mannar provides suitable areas serving as breeding ground for many of the gastropod shells which form the important Ornamental products components supporting the shells industry at , , , 1 . Keelakarai and Rameswaram area. In view of the increase in demand for ornamental molluscan shells there has been a TU t. , . • • . , . , . , , • ^ .. • The craftsmanship m the shell industry is wide diversification, producing novel items age old and dates back to the historic time when such as table lamps, lamp shades and domes, pg^jiy^^ ^ ^ . ^ j^^.^ ^^^^ p^^, ^^^^^i ^,3^ been dolls, garlands, pendents for chains, necklaces, ,„ ,j . . . .u .•. t. t u n . ^ recorded to nurture the then craftsmen of shell ear-drops, beads for the neck, hair pins, fantasy .^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^^, p.^^^^ ^^ flowers sculptures of Gods and Goddesses, ^^^^^ ^^ ^,^ ^^^^^^^.^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^,^,^,^^^ agarbathi stands, bangles, flower vases, shell i • .u • . x •. . . people in the society, some of these are still screens for windows and door curtains etc. •, u, • • , j available in «ome national museums and temples. The causative factors which prompted ,. , ^. the development of the shell industry into a Marketing , . well established one are manifold such as mere There are as many as 12 shell industry whimsical curiosity to religious sentiments, units of which 3 are at Keelakarai and Curiosity tempted man to collect the gorgeously 9 at Rameswaram which manufacture the multicoloured shells and then he found some ornamental shells and market them throughout uses of the shells, initially as utensils for keep-India. The market outlets in India are Bombay, ing food and water. Even now beggars use the Calcutta, Delhi, Mathura, Haridhwar, Lucknow, shells of Cymb/um melo as 'beggar's bowl'. Purl, Ayodhya, Kanyakumari, Madras, Dwarka, Later the aesthetic sense prevailed to find ways Hyderabad, Bangalore and Agra. The shell and means of using them as ornaments, The and shell products are exported to countries use of sinistral chanks and dextral chanks in like USA, U K., Australia and Austria. The temples testifies to the religious sentiments annual turn over of the shell industry amounts attached to chanks. to Rs 10,00,000. Keelakarai is purely a shell processing and shell ornamental manufacturing centre and there are no retail or wholesale outlets for the public. On the other hand Ramesweram thrives not only with the shell and shell ornamental production but there are as many asseventy shell shops located in and around the Rameswaram temple. Being a very important religious place, Rameswaram attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over India and abroad and these shops cater to the need of these pilgrims and tourists. The shells and shell ornaments vary in cost from as low as Rs 1.50 to as costly as Rs 400 and a sinistral sacred chank costs anywhere around BULLETIN 42 109 procurers and the shell shop owners. Each craftsman earns around Rs. 15 to 20 a day. Some of the craftsmen work as shell collectors and procurers also and the shell crafting work is seasonal during May to September. Exploitation of the shells is not regulated and there is no organised fishery exists except for chanks. Therefore, it is suggested that systamatic studies on the biology and population dynamics of these species are suggested for rational exploitation of these resources. This industry thrives mostly as a cottage industry along this coast. Further training in the cranfsmanship and financial support to certain extent for the pro-curement of advanced mechineries may improve the standard of the products which may attract a wider market in India and abroad. This may be achieved through organising a co-operative societies in the industry and the financial assistance may be extended by the Government or through banks. This may improve the economy of the industry in addition to increase the employment opportunity in the coastal area of Ramnad district. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are immensly grateful to Shri S. Maha-devan. Head of the Division, Mollusca, CMFRI to Rs. 5000 to 10000 depending onits size and ^°' his constant, help, valuable criticism and perfection. guidance in the preparation of this paper and to _. . ,, r. • J . * ./ 1 I • J Dr. P. Vedavyasa Rao, Officer-in-charge, MRC The shell craft industry at Keelakarai and Ramnad offer livelihood for nearly 250 shell- of CMFRI Mandapam Camp for his kind craftsmen apart from the fishermen, shell encouragement in the course of this study. 

Ornamental shell industry of Ramanathapuram coast

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Ornamental shell industry of Ramanathapuram coast

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