Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-15
From the atbaay Daily .4drertiser.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PEARL FISH
EQV

cry.
o.. Pearls are usually of roundish form, found in
the body and she'll Of testaceous fish. OF the oys
ter kind. They have always been held IN high es-
tima,ion as ornamental gems; and the practice OF
fishing for them appears to have begun at remote
period; vide Pliny, lib. 9. C. 81. At present,
pearls are found in different parts of Europe,
and iu America. In Asia, where they are
obtained in the greatest abundance, are the fol-
lowing places; the Gulph of Manaar, the Persian
GuIph. the Sooloo Archipelago, and the coast Of
japan. The two first of these have been ceebrat-
ed since the time of Pliny, for the number and
superior quality of the Pearls which they have
produced. The Ceylon pearl fishery was neglect
ed BY the Dutch from 1853; but was resumed IN
100 nv the British, on their becoming mas
ters Of the sea coast. The produce has varied in
differen, seasons in 1897: II yielded revenue OF
pl44, coo: in 1898 no less than Gl92,OOo; Datin
the following year only ESQ. 900, 1t having been
nearly exhausted BY the three proceeding seasons
The oyster hanks extend thirty miles from Ma
naar. southwark Of Arippe and Coudatchy, and
are in general ah0ut Is mics from the shore,-
the principa! one is about 90 miles from the shore,
and i about tea miles ~ length and ten miles IN
breadth The depth of water over tile different
hanks varies from three to fifteen tathOms; but
the fishing is found in from six to eight iathoms.
There are fourteen banks, Of which not more than
two or three are fShed in each season, IN order
that the oysters may attain their proper state OF
maturity. which is supposed to be IN seven years.
The Il shing season commences about the middle
of February and continues till the end of March,;
thoush from various interruptions, there are not
above thirty days of fishing. The divers aud the
boats employed in the fishing, come from Tut-
CORN. Karical, Negopatam, and other parts Of
the Coronandel coast. The boats rendezvous IN
the bay Of Condatchy, where they are numbered
and contracted for they open vessels. OF about
one ton bur;hen about forty five feet lsng. seven
or eight broad, aud three deep. All the boats
regularly sail together from the bay, with the land
breeze, at 10 O'Clock, P. NJ. they reach the banks
at sunrise, when the fishing is commenced; and
at noon, they return with the sea breeze. The
crew of each boat consists Of ten divers. with ten
persons for hauling them up; five OF the divers
descend into the sea at time, while the other
FIVE have their leisure 20 recruit. In order TO
hasten their descent. large stone is used, with
rope attached to it, which the diver seizes with
the toes Of his right foot. whilst he srasps bag
Of network with those OF his left. He then seiz-
O. another rope with his right hand. and keeping
his nostris shut with his left, punses into the
water and soon reaches the bottom. Then hang
ing the net around his meek. ne speedily collects
the oysters, aud resumiug his former position, he
makes a signal to those in the boat and is lmme-
.dia,ely hauled up. and the stone which assisted
his descent is pulled up afterwards. The time
he continues under water, seldom exceeds mi
pu,e. sometimes il is one and half or two, and
instances have been known Of a'diver remaining
tuli six minutes under water. When the oysters
are abundant, diver often brings up $50 ia his
net; but when they are thinly scattered, he Will
sometimes collect not more thah hve. One boat
has bean known to land in day $4,000 oysters:
Al L. IL nj
who are accustomed to this seemingly dangerous
occupation from their infancy. and who fearless
liz descend sometimes to great depths They will
frequently make from forty TO fifty plunges IN a
day: but the exertion is s0 violent, that on COM
inc to the surface they discharge water. and some
times blood from their mouths, ears and nostrils.
Some of them rub their bodies over with oil, and
stuff their ears to prevent the water from enter
ing; but the greater part use no precautions what
ever. they take no food while in the boats, nor
till they return on shore and have bathed them
selves in fresh water.
The only danger to which they are exposed, is
from meeting. while at the bottom. the ground
sL.rk. which is common inhabitant OF those seas,
and Of which the divers are under dreadful appre-
Lsnsiops Some of them indeed are so expert as
,o avoid this enemy, even when they remain un-
der water for a considerable time; but the uncer-
tainty of escap ping is so great, that IN order to
avert the danger, they consult, before they begin,
their priests or conjurers. in whom they place I'M
nhcit confidence. Great numbers ct this class
resort to this island during the fishing eason,and
two of them are employed by government, one OF
whom goes out in the head pilot-boat, while the
other performs certain ceremonies on shore. -
After the oysters are brought on shore. they are
suffered to remain together in heaps, till they have
passed through state Of putrefaction, and have
become dry, when the pearl is easily extracted,
without being injured. Though pearls are not
peculiar to one kind of oysters, the pearl oysters
of Ceylon are allofone species and one shape, be-
ins an imperfect oval, about nine inches and a
half in circumference. The bedy Of the oyster is
white and fieshy, much fatter and more glutton-
ous than the common oyster, and SO rank as to be
unfit for eating The outside of the she'll is
smooth, unless when covered with the sea weed,
and the inside is more bright and beautiful than
The pearl ITSELF some Of the oysters are as red as