The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-04-23 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER

RED SEA PEARLS.

In his reports on subjects of general and commer-
cial interest, Consul Jago gives the following informa-
tion relative to the Red Sea mother-of-pearl fisheries,
which extend the whole length of the Red Sea, from
El Wedj on the north to Aden on the south. The
principal grounds are in the neighbourhood of
Souakim, Massowah, and the Farsan islands. About
300 boats are employed, the majority belonging to
the Zobeid Bedouins, a tribe of Arabs inhabiting the
coast line between Jeddah and Yambo. About 50
boats belong to Jeddah, and two or three to Confide,
Cameran, and Loheiha. They are open, undecked
boats, of between eight and 20 tons burden, carrying
a large lateen sail, manned by crews varying between
five and twelve men, and each provided with a num-
ber of small canoes, which are imported specially
from the coast of Malabar, India. There are two
fishing seascns during the year, one of four months
and one of eight months, during nearly the whole of
which the boats keep the sea, the crews living on
bcard, returning to their homes for short periods of
two to four weeks. The crews, composed principally
of black slaves, are paid by share of the produce of
their fishing, the owner of the boat taking one-third,
the remaining two-thirds being divided among the
former, after deducting the cost of food consumed by
them during the vbyage, and which consists of
dhourra, rice, and fish, with sometimes a little ghee,
and dates as a rare luxury. Fatal accidents are said
to be unknown, and the men are remarkable for their
strength and good health. They dive between the ages
of 10 and 40, and the practice is said to have no iil
effects. The fishing takes place in the neigbourhood
of reefs, the boat anchoring at a certain spot, whence
the crew proceed fishing in their canoes in the vicinity.
Operbtions are conducted only in calm weather, when
the shell can be discovered by the eye at a depth
varying between 7 and 15 fathoms. Of late years, to
assist the eye, empty petroleum tins, with the ends
knocked out and a sheet of glass inserted in one end,
have begun to be used. The tin with the glass end
below is submerged a little in the sea, and the dis-
covery of the shell thereby facilitated. During the
last 10 years the find is said to have diminished 10
to 20 per cent, in quantity, owing to dearth of shells,
all sizes being taken. The value of the total harvest
is estimated at 120,000 to 170,000 dols. annually, the
dollar varying in value between 3s. and 3s. 6d. The
short season of four months, which used to average
between 40,000 and 50,000 dols., this year onlk pro-
duced 25,000 dols. Formerly all the produce of the
Red Sea was brought to Jeddah for sale and export,
but lately, owing to fiscal and custom-house restric-
tions, only about one-fourth now comes here, the
remainder going to Souakim and Massowah. At
Jeddalti 8 per cent. customs dues are charged, besides
other taxes, whereas at Souakim and Massowah 1
per cent. only is charged. Pearls of the value
annually of 4000 to 5000 dols. are found, but the
estimate is untrustworthy, as pearls of value are
supposed to be secreted and privately disposed of.
Shells imported at Jeddah for sale are disposed of by
public auction, in heaps of about half a hundred-
weight each. As preliminary inspection is not allowed,
the bidding is purely speculative, and bidders have to
take account of dirt, coral excrescences, and inferior
shells not easily discernible by the eye. Prior to ex-
portation the shells are sometimes cleaned to remove
coral and dirt, and are then packed in barrels. Up
to ten years ago all shells brought to Jeddah for sale
were chipped by natives to Cairo to be sold there.
Now, however, the bulk goes to Trieste, a small quan-
t'ty to London, and a little to Havre. Again, a few
of the finest and largest shells are purchased by Beth-
lemites for exportation to Bethlehem, where they are
engraved and sold to pilgrims. The Jeddah shell is
considered in Europe inferior to that exported from
Suakin and Massowah, owing, it is said, in some in-
stances to the yellowish tint of the former, and the
fact that many of the shells have a greenish tint
around the edges. Some ascribe this to the excessive
dampness of the climate of Jeddah not permitting
of the shells brought here for sale being properly
dried; others to the best shells having been disposed
of elsewhere.