Chank Fishing in South India Under the English East India Company, 1800–40

Abstract

This chapter examines the management of chank (conch shell) fishing by the English East India Company (EIC) in the first half of the nineteenth century along India’s southeastern coast. In administering the fishery, the EIC built upon previous practices but also introduced changes that were designed to increase revenues. The chapter discusses the participation of Tamil Muslim merchants, a community of South Indian maritime merchants, in chank fishing under the administration of the EIC. Tamil Muslim merchants used their local knowledge and position as ship-owners to secure contracts to conduct the fishery at multiple locations in South India. The chapter highlights the importance of revenues from marine animal products for the EIC in India.