The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-04-06
Our 0lio.
PEARL FISHING
IN THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA.

Although most hand books OF geog
raphy mention that pearls are net with
10 the Gulf OF Callioraia, bat few de
scribe the system on which the pearl
tishlug is conducted there aad to those
unfamiliar with the characteristic fea
ures the following details, eou mum
Gated by South CalitEniau gentleman
thoroughly cUuversant wttL the bust
mess, may possibly bc Iouud st iGlerest
The pearl bauks, II sppears, extend
Tor distance vi nearly seven hundred
miles aloug the western shore Ot the
gull, covering the ruu h aud 6ssured
surface Oi racks which project intU the
sea-OifseIs Ui cUast.raUge of mUun
iains, sterile as regards vegetation. bu:
rich IN silver ore. The gr ater part
lie uOrthward of the hirbUr OF La Paz.
where thsir increase is favored by au
almost total absence OF storms aud tidal
movements, aud the general tranquility
OF the Eater. On the opposite-the
Sonora aud SinalOa-cuast, gu the other
haud, not bank has ever been known
to exist
The pearl 6-hing expeditions start
lrom the little seaport towns OF Malege,
Loreto, aud La PaE-the majority from
La PSE-aud great is the hustle and
excitemeat ,u the Ronths OF March aud
April preparatory to thcir departure (;
vessels have to be fitted out, divers to
be engaged, provisions to be laid ia, aud
the thousand aud Que arrangements
made which such campaign neeessarily
| Involves
The number Of divers employed by
those embarking in the enterprise de-
pends upon the capital at command
Large houses employ frcm 100 to 200 !;
small ones rs to 30. The agreement
entered into is Of u peculiar kind. No
stipulation is made as to board aud
lodging, aud instead of receiving money
wages, the diver is paid in pearls. Il,
is customary to advance him certain
sum Of money on acccunt-in the case
OF practiced hauds as much us $500 ;
aud il he has not repaid the loan by
October, when the engagement termi.
mates, he is bound to work of the ar.
rears the ensuing season.
The hUtilla sets sail at the end Of
April, aud, making for some bay not
visited for several yeats past, aud thought
To contain pearl banks, there casts an .
chors. Next follows a lively scene at
the place OF Decentralization aud en-
campment. Tents are erected aud
opened rs stores, cabins aud log.huts
spring up on all sides, fuel il laid 10 10
no time, a whole village has been con.
struc,ed aud supplied with all the es
sentialS Of life. With the exception Of
the organizer Of the undertaking, the
" dwellers ia tents" ure The diyers-few
in number-who bring their families
with them to attend to a ieireshment
or cooks shop. lu selecting site for
the latter, Que Of the chief things look
ed to is the existence of u spring or
stream IN the vicinity. The employers 8
tent Is large enough to contain an Office,
aud depot Of comestibles, wines and
spirits, ready made clothes, blankets,
linen, &c. Provisions purchased at this
store may be paid Tor in pearls.
From time immemorial, the Sd of
May has been the opening day OF the
season, aud the domestic arrange,ne uts
"i the camp are then IN ,stly completed.
During what is called the period Of
'n'tiation the men are obliged TO prac
tise Ia shallow water, aud it not uufre.
quenily happens that they rise iron
their first lew dives with blood stream
mg from iHouth aud ears. Soon, how
ever, their lungs become accustomed to
the nc~ element, aud they dc cend with
ou lear to the greater depths at which
the banks are iuuud
IheOrganizatiUu ol the work deyolyes
on the employer. lie fixes the hour OF
labor. divides the uieu iuto companies,
aud provides each u! the latter with a
boat. On account Of the stronger light
between thUse hours, irom 8 A NJ. till
L NJ is considered the most favora.
bic time OF the day Tor diving
Alter reaching aud snchvring their
boats a; what are thought to be likely
spots, the men strip. and, armed with
iron spiked sticks or rods about half u
yard III length, ut once spring over
hoard. These sticks serve the double
purpose OF defending them from their
marine enemies, aud breaking loose the
pearl shells from the assures aud pro
Jecting portions of the rocks to which
they adhere. The diver throws the
detached shells into a bag fastened to
bis body, aud then, iu a surprisingly