The bêche-de-mer industry is essentially a cottage industry. Men are engaged in going out into sea and diving for the material. At some places women and children are engaged in collecting holothurians during low tide from muddy flats. After men return from sea the work can be taken over by women in degutting and boiling holothurians. The active participation of fisherwomen in this foreign exchange earning industry will certainly improve both the industry and the financial conditions of the fisherwomen.