Thoorivalai'  seems to be profitable as the man power used is less and catch landed is high. They get a large quantity of fish with a minimum of 600 kg to a maximum of 800 kg. The fishermen using this type of fishing at Kadathukkuppam (Tanjore Dt.) got a maximum of 700 kg fish by putting 9 hauls and engaging 10 persons a unit during July, 1988

Balakumar, S K

Dhandapani, T

CMFRI Digital Repository

ISSN 0254-380 X No. 105 JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 1990 . arE>\ *--• ?s % U cTif»?*Tcf»r x r « r TECHNICAL AND "fiW^IIC 3 t ^ » T ^ c ^ EXTENSION SERIES %^tcr FWjift TTifeFugsl" CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES SfljjSreiRr ??rrarar RESEARCH INSTITUTE ^Jtfcw, mra* COCHIN, INDIA INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 'THOORIVALA' AND ITS MULTI USE* It is not uncommon that a particular fishing gear is used for more than one type of fishing. Here the three ways of operation of boat-seine Thoorivalai' prevail-ing particularly along Tanjore coast of Tamil Nadu are described. Though it looks like Thattumadi' of west coast, it does not have cod end and is dragged atleast 20-25 m during operation. Figures 1 & 2 represent a model boat seine. Type of operation - I The unit of operation consists of two catamarans, one big and the other small and the 'thoorivalai'. The big catamaran is made of four or five pieces of logs and operated by three or four persons. The small catamaran is made of three pieces and operated by two persons. The unit (Fig. 1) is usually operated against current at a distance of 1 to 5 km from the cost and at a depth of 10 to 50 m. This net is used for catching ribbon fish, prawns, Acetes, crab, chank etc. during October, November and December. Fig. 1. "Thoori valai' (boat seine) ordinary type. Type of operation - II Here the net (Fig. 2) is slightly modified from the net used for the above type of operation. The bottom of the net is fitted with an additional net in the front. The additional net is mainly used to drive the fish above. It can be detached after operation. Apart from the net, five 'Kambis' are also used in the operation. 'Kambi' is a rope made of coir or nylon (diameter 2 cm) having length considerbaly longer than the required depth. Coconut leaves are tied to the rope at an interval of 4 m. Floats and anchors are also used along with the rope. All the 5 'Kambis' are anchored at a depth of 20 - 25 m in an area of 1 km2 with a rope of 30 - 35 m long and a stone weighing 15 kg (locally called 'Cheeny'). Two such anchors are used. Sometimes a 'Pari', a cage of dried palm (or) coconut leaves containing blocks of red mud is also used as anchors. When it is inside the water, it slightly dissolves and spreads outside thereby luring the fish for feeding. Sixteen numbers of floats of medium size are used for the net operation. The fishing crafts for the operation are two big catamarans with five persons each and one small catamaran with three persons. The fishermen anchor the 'Kambis' into the sea at the required depth during the previous day. Next day at about 0600 hrs they set forth into the sea with the three catamarans. The small catamaran, called 'Kambi maram' or 'Mulukku maram' is operated by three persons out of which two are divers. By seeing bright blue colour of the water the divers, by remaining in the catamaran itself, examine one of the 'Kambis' for the occurrence of school of fishes around the coconut leaves. Normally, black pomfrcts congregate around the 'Kambi' either to feed on the dirt found on the coconut leaves or for shelter. As soon as the school is noticed the men near 'Kambi maram' give signal by waving their hands to the other two big catamarans to operate the 'thoori valai'. Then the net is operated in the direction opposite to current. Since the 'Kambis' and coconut leaves are put in the mid water the net also is operated in the midwater by dragging. When the net comes nearer to the 'Kambi' the divers dive into the sea and guide the fishes to the cod end of the net. This job requires diver's expertise. As the fishes enter into the net the opening of the additional net fitting is constricted and drawn above so that the fishes cannot Fig. 2. Thoori valai' (boat seine) fitted with extra net. * Preparedby : T. Dhandapani, Cuddalore Field Centre of CMFKI, Cuddalore, with the help of Shri S. K. Balakumar, Madras Research Centre of CMFRI, Madras. 12 escape. The same process of operation will be repeated for hauling the fishes found around the remaining 4 'Kambis' also. This method is prevalent in the fishing villages of Thoduvai, Thirumullai Vasal etc. It is operated during March, April and May. Ilisha, Dussumieria, Caranx, Arius, Apogon etc. During this fishery season the colour of the sea water was-slightly cold and mixed with alluvial soil. The fishes will be seen moving in a lethargic mood and floating in a fainted condition. Sometimes ladies and children are seen scooping the fishes by using 'Katcha valai' in the nearshore water. Type of operation - III During certain seasons, the fishermen use the Thoorivalai' as shore-seine by operating it in the surf-beaten area of about 500 m from the beach. Additional net is not used here. During this operation they fish 'Kirachi fish', a miscellaneous variety containing Cynoglossus, rays, prawns, sciaenids, Upeneus, Genes, Using the Thoorivalai' as shore-seine for this type of operation seems to be profitable as the man power used is less and catch landed is high. They get a large quantity of fish with a minimum of 600 kg to a maximum of 800 kg. The fishermen using this type of fishing at Kadathukkuppam (Tanjore Dt.) got a maximum of 700 kg fish by putting 9 hauls and engaging 10 persons a unit during July, 1988. ON THE SEASONAL HOOKS AND LINE FISHERY AT PAMBAN, NEAR MANDAPAM* Hooks and line fishery at Vizhinjam (Mar. Fish. Infor. Serv., T&E Sex., 69:23-28) and Calicut (Mar. Fish. Infor. Serv., T&E. Ser., 83: 23) have been described earlier. The present account is on the seasonal hooks and line fishery at Pamban, near Mandapam in the Gulf of Mannar. The hooks and line fishermen of Tuticorin migrate toward Mandapam region and carryout fish-ing operation during December - March. They employ 10.5 m long plank - built boats fitted with 10 HP diesel inboard engine. Each unit with 6-7 fishermen onboard operates hooks and lines along the coral reefs off Dhanushkodi at a depth of 18 - 25 m. The actual number of fishing days ranged from 10 in January to 25 in February during the present observation. Iron hooks of about 7 cm long, numbering about 1000 - 3000 are operated from each boat with monofil-ament line of about 1 mm thickness. Sardinella spp. are used exclusively as bait. During each trip, 2 - 3 hauls are made and the actual fishing hours vary from 4 to 5 h. Several quality fishes, such as perches and elas-mobranchs were represented in the catch. The average catch per trip was 20.76 kg for the entire period. The gross income from a boat ranged from Rs. 150 -1,000/ - per trip with an average income of Rs. 400/-. Particulars of catch (kg) and the species compo-sition are furnished in Table 1. It could be seen that the maximum catch was brought in February and the minimum in January. Lethrinus spp. (34.01%) and Lutjanus spp. (22.95%) were the most dominant species landed by hooks and line. Sharks (9.58%), rays (8.36%) Epinephelus spp. (6.87%) Plectorhynchus spp. (4.73%) and Pristipomoides spp. (4.67%) were the other impor-tant species caught during the period. Size ranges in Lethrinus spp., Lutjanus spp. and Epinephelus spp. were, respectively, 160 - 775 mm, 150 - 685 mm and 200 - 800 mm. There has been no report of confrontation of any sort between these group of migratory fishermen and the local traditional fishermen over the fishing rights. Their fishing activity is seldom affected by mechanised trawlers as they operate hooks and lines along the coral reefs. The good catches obtained by them, particularly perches (73%), are indicative of the richness of commer-cially important fishes in this fishing ground in the Gulf of Mannar. * Prepared by: P. Jayasankar, Regional Centre of CMFRI, Mandapam Camp - 623 520. 13 

'Thoorivala' and its multi use

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'Thoorivala' and its multi use

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