Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-09-28
Ceylon Pearl Fishery.

The pearl fishery which has just closed
in Ceylon has been one of the most sue
cessful on record. The pearls procured
from the oysters On the banks situated on
Silivaturai, on the western coast OF that
island, have been famous from time imme-
mortal for their purity, shape, and color.
In these attributes they far surpsss those
obtained from the oysters Of the Persian
Gulf, although they are, as q rule, infe-
rior to the latter In size. The oyster Of
the Arippu banks il scientifically known
as the Meleagrind margaritiferd, and
is of a species not existing on all pearl
oyster banks, and Of Q different genus
altogether to that found in the Tamble-
gan Lake, near Trincomalee, on the east
ern coast of the island, which Is termed
the PLacund placenfa. The earliest
fishery of which we can find any detailed
record took place In the year 1896; and
from that date the Ceylon Government,
up to the year 1874, derived q sum OF
81, ,0l3, 1l3 from this source. The pearl
oyster is curiously migratory in its habits;
and from one cause or another the banks
are for years together almost totally de-
serted by them, al d long intervals elapsed
during which the fishery has, from this Pc
culiarity, been closed, rendering the return
from 1t quite unreliable as source Of set
tied revenue. Thus from 1879 TO 1746,
from l76S to 1896, and from 1888 to 1854,
there were no fisheries at all, and it was
feared at the latter date that the oysters
had altogether deserted the banks A few
words descriptive of the system under
which fishery is conducted will be of In
terest a report having been received
from the inspector that there are sufficient
oysters of mature age On the banks, the
Government advertises date for its COM
mencement. A large number Of boat
owners, both Ceylonese and from the oppo-
site coast of India, apply to enrol their
boats, and these, probably TO the number
of l50 to $50, are divided into two fleets,
sailing under red and blue flags, which
proceed to the banks, situsted some six
miles from the shore, on alternate days.
Each boat provides its own crew and
divers, and has on board q guard, whose
duty 1t is to see that the oysters fshed are
not surreptiously disposed uf. Each diver
stands on fiat stone attached to the diving
rope, and after taking long inspiration,
closes the nosirils with one hand, and de-
scends on the stone TO the bottom, where
he hastily collects as many oysters in his
basket as the time he Is able to remain at
the bottom admits of. This varies very
much with the capacity of different men;
but in spite of all assertions to the con-
trary, we believe that few divers can stay
below beyond forty five seconds AT q
given signal the boats all sell for the shore,
and on their arrival they are unloaded un- |
der inspection, and the oysters placed in |
the Government kottoos-palisaded inclo- |
sures with q cement floor. Here the oys- |
tiers are counted, and the proportion due |
10 the boat owners for their services is |
made over to them. The remainder, which |
is the property of the Government, is put |
up to auction and sold to the highest |
bidder. The purchasers remove their lots |
10 private kottoos, where the oysters un-
dergo the dlssgreesble process of rotting |
to enable the pearls to be washed out. |
The stencil resulting from this decay is |
fearful, and it has often happened that the |
operations have had to be prematurely |
closed in consequence Of the resulting out
break of cholera. 1t says much for the
careful sanitary arrangements made by the
officials ia charge that such outbreaks are
not of recent occurrence. The official
estimate of the proceeds to be expected
from this years fishing was 400, 900 rs
but this estimate has been considerably ex-
ceeded, the returns having been 599, 333 rs.
To some considerable extent this increase
is due to the improved demand in India
for pearls, the competition having been
very keen. The total number of days on
which the weather and other conditions
allowed of operations being Conducted was
forty, and The fishing finally closed on
April q. The number of oysters fished
during that period is reported to have been
about 17,000,0 900, and the average price
realized for them about 81 rs. per thous-
and, though they occasionally brought as
high prices rs 43 rs. Der thousand.