Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-07
DIVING FOR PEARLS.
The Pearl Fisheries OF mexico.
y. " HIPn&RB.
Publisher and Proprietor

Preparatory to entering on pearl
fishing, a contractor must obtain a
concession, and take care to be pro.
yided with such articles as the In
dians most desire = eatables, tools,
coarse dresses and toys. The con-
cession is obtained by securing a
fifth Of the produce of the fishery
to the authorities Of La Paz, and
then, at an expens. of IS, a right
to fish in a certain spot is acquired.
A picturesque scene is presented
by the encampment Of the Indians
with their families, who are mainly
supported through the year by the
fishery. They impatiently await
the coming of their employers, and
their approach is a signal for a joy
full tumult. All join in the shout
of welcome, and many plunge into
the sea to show by their various
performances in the water their
superior fitness for the laborS they
are anxious to undertake.
Loud cries are heard Of "Engage
me, master" 81 will make your
fortune" i" "You employed me last
year." " | am not only the best Of
divers, but am always lucky"
A selection is made, and the con-
tractor takes with him those he
deems the ablest hands, pursued by
the reproachss and taunts of those
who consider they are unfairly
neglected. The conditions of the
engagement secure tho divers main
tenance during the fishery, and a
share of the unopened oysters.
These requirements granted, shak-
ing hands seals or completes the
engagement.
1t is from the 18th Of May to the
18th Of August that the Mexican
fishing is prosecuted, Then it is
that calm weather and cloudless
sky may be expected, which are in
dispensable to success. Early in
the afternoon q breeze frequently
comes from the northeast. Should
it rain the works are partly sAG'
pendeG. The evening" is occupied
in opening the oysters collected in
the early part of the day.
The day after the arrival Of the
divers the places most likely to
| prove favorable are sought by ex-
perienced eyes, and sort Of re-
hearsal is gone through by the In
dians. They plunge in to q mod
crate depth and remain but o short
time under water. They then pre-
pare themselves for the seYerer task.
Their children, almost amphibious,
remain OH the bank, and are thus
prepared to take up the calling Of
| a diver at some future day.
The Indians dive fearlessly, being
accustomed to such exercises from
their infancy, plunging to a depth
of from five to ten tathoms, BY
two cords q livingstone and a net
are connected with the boat which
always accompanies them. The
diver, putting the toes Of his right
foot on the rope OF the Livingstone
and his left on the net, Seizes the
two cords with one hand, and, clos
ing his nostrils with the other, goes
to the bottom Of the water, where
he brings the net around his neck
and collects and puts into it as
many shells as he can reach while
he remains below, which is gener-
ally about two minutes. On
emerging from the sea he discharges
water from his mouth and nose and
sometimes blood, which, however
| does not deter him from presently
resuming his labors. Some men viii
frequently make fifty trips in one
forenoon.
Divers soon find themselves able
to remain under water two min
utes; some occasionally stay three
minutes, bat never longer. Young
divers at first are curiously affected
blood rushes from the nose, eyel
and ears when they come up, caused
by the compression Of the lungs.
II is a painful sight, but rest anC
cold water are the only remedies
applied, and after a short time tht
bleeding is not renewed on diving