Ratnagiri Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Ratnagiri Town
Head-quarters of Ratnagiri District, Bombay, situated in 16 59' N. and 73 18' E., 136 miles south-by-east of Bombay city. Population (1901), 16,094. The town is open and faces the sea ; the fort stands on a rock between two small bays, but these afford neither shelter nor good anchorage, as they are completely exposed and have a rocky bottom. With any breeze from the west, a heavy surf breaks on the bar, and boats can enter only at high tide. The present town consists of four originally distinct villages. In 1822, on the transfer of the District head-quarters from Bankot to Ratnagiri, the villages were merged in the town. One object of interest con- nected with Ratnagin is the tarh 01 sardine fisheiy, which usually takes place in the months of January and February, when fleets of canoes may be seen engaged in this occupation. A single net-caster will fill his canoe in the course of a morning. The fishing-ground is just outside the breakers. The industry can be carried on only when the water is clear enough to admit of the fish being readily visible. The salt-water creek to the south of the fort is practicable only for country craft of under 20 tons burden. The value of the trade of the Ratna- giri port in 1903-4 was returned at 23! lakhs ; imports 17 lakhs, and exports 6| lakhs. The chief imports are salt, timber, catechu, and grain ; the chief exports are fuel, fish, and bamboos.
In 1876 Ratnagiri was constituted a municipality The average income during the decade ending 1901 was Rs. 13,000. In 1903-4 the income was likewise Rs. 13,000, chiefly derived from a house tax and octroi. The streets and the landing-place are lighted ; and a travellers' bungalow is kept up by the municipality From a perennial stream 2-| miles east of the town water has been conducted, and pipes are laid through all the chief quarters. Ratnagiri contains 9 schools, including a high school, a middle school, and a school of industry with a daily attendance of 209 students, which was opened in 1879, and is supported by the District board. The lighthouse was erected in 1867. The elevation of the lantern above high water is 320 feet, and the height of the building, from base to vane, 35 feet. It exhibits a single led, fixed, dioptric light, of order 6, which is visible at 15 miles distance. Besides the chief revenue and judicial offices, the town contains a Subordinate Judge's court, a lunatic asylum, a civil hospital, and a leper asylum.
