Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-03-10

vided INTO several portions, aud not more
than two or three can be tished in one seas
on. These ditferent portions are leased an
lnually IN succession, so that now a sufficient
time is given for the oysters to increase in
size and numbers" This policy was not
adopted, and the fishery ran our but now,
after u lapse of two centuries since any of
consequence has been taken, there is little
doubt the fishery is again, ii properly pros
ecuied, as rich as ever.
To come, however, TO modern times -
Several expeditions have been fitted out, by
Engiishmen TO renew the fisheries in Cali
lornia, hut not with much success. In 1896
that year of speculatloa--one of these
companies, called " The General Pearl and
Coral Fishing Association Of London," sent
out Lieut.. Hardy, II. N, to examine the
fisheries of California, and report the pros
pect of success. His report is very intes
esting, and several extracts are annexed.
He stated that good divers were very diff
cult to be procured, and recommended the
use of diving bells, where they were capable
of being used as substitute. He found the
divers We're afraid to go down in certain
places, for fear of the teatereroS or ground
sharks, and the mGntGS or marriages. This
latter fish, he was informed, was an inn
nense broad fish, formed like skate. They
hug the divers with two large fins and carry
the poor fellows off. One was struck by
Capt. Hall with a harpoon, and when taken,
was found to measure twenty feet across the
back. Notwithstanding these dangers, aud
anxious himself toascertain the state of tie
oyster banks, Lieutenant Hardy became u
diver.
He says: IL it be difficult TO learn to
. swim, il is infinitely more SO to to dive. In
my first attempts could only descend about
six feet, and was Immediately obliged to rise
again to the surface but by degrees, got
down TO two or three fathonis, mt which
depth the pressure of the water upon the
ears is SO great, that can only compare it
to sharp pointed iron instrument being
Violently forced into that organ My stay
under water, therefore, AT this DEPTH was
extremely short but as | had been assured,
that MS soon rs the ears should hurst, as tits
technically called by the divers, there would
be no difficulty in descending to any depth,
and wishing to become an accomplished d-
yer, determined TO brave the excessive
pain. Accordingly, taking leap from the
bows of the boat, tul of hope aud resolu-
ton, with my fingers knit together over my
head, the elbows straight, and keeping my
, Self steadily in the inverse order Of nature,
namely, with my feet perpendicularly up
four fathoms, when it became necessary to
. assist the descent by mcdus of the hands
ami it-Es. Out uias, VINO can count upon the
firmness of his resolution. The change of
temperature from hot To cold is most scnsl-
bly, felt. Every fathonl fills the Imagination
with some new idea of the dangerous folly
OF penetrating farther into the silent domin-
ions Of reckless monsters, where the skulls
Of the dead make perpetual grmaccs, and
the yawnng Jaws of sharks and tentereros,
or the death embrace of the mantas Inc ~
wait for us. These impressions were mug
mcntcd by the imposslbllty Of the VISION
penetrating the twilight by which | was
surrounded, together with the excruciating
pain felt in my ewes and ears; III short,
inv mind being assailcd by thousand in
comprehensive images, ! ceased striking
with MY hands and legs ; felt myself rece-
ding from the bottom, involuntary chang
ed lhe position of my body, and in the next
instant found myself once more on the sur
face. Again essayed with more fixed
determination. felt myself gliding through
the slippery water, which from its density,
gave one the idea of swimming through
thick Jelly again J experienced the same
change of temperature as descended, and
again the agoniZing sensation ~ my eyes
and ears made me wayer. but now reason
and resolution urged me on, although every
Instant the pain increased as ! descended,
and at the depth Of six or seven tathoms,
felt Il sensation in my ears like that produced
by the explosion Of IN at the sane mo-
nent lost al sense Of pain, and afterwards
reached the bottom with a facility which
had thought unatiaInable. no
sooner found myself at the surface again,
than became sensible of what had happen
ed 10 my ears, eyes and mouth ; was ut
crally bleeding from each OF these, though
wholly unconscious Of II. But now was ne
grcatest danger in diving, rs the sharks,
niantas and teniereros have an astonishing
quick scent for blood"
Lieut. Hardy found the pearl oysters on
the coast Of California, chiefly IN sheltered
bays, the bottoms of which were covered
with large rocks and they were most album
liant in assures or cclis Of these rocks, adj
herring firmly by strong byssus, so strongly,
INDEED, that it required no lIttle force to tear
Them away. lie tells Us the diver carries
with him an oak stick about nine inches
long and pointed NJ both ends. lie grasps
the stick by the middle, and when atiarked
by the shark or rnanlas, be tbrusts II into the
monsters expanded jaws, IN such position
that when attempting 10 seize ms VicLim
they close upon the two sharp 20 MS. re
himself, ~ hls aqueous eNpeulIt )b7 ifA ~
w'h one Of these monsters, but be describes
an account related to him by native, Don
Pablo 0cbon, for many years snPerlniend-
ant of the fishing, and himself nn expert
diver. The PtaUer de Ia PiedrG Negada
(and from this il WIN be seen there are
:. placers" of pearls as well rs placcfs"
of gold situated near L0retta--a town be-
fore alluded 20 as having been once the CHEZ
seaf Of the pearl fishery IN the siXtceeth cen
|,ury. and being then a city Of wealth, but
NOW containing only $50 Inhabitauts-this
placer. situated near Loretto, IN the Gulf Of
California, had the reputation Of formerly
producing the largest and most numerous