Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-02
A BONANZA IN PEARLS.
Gne Fisheries of Lower CaIffornia-A
Gigantic Concession - Exclusive
Right Granted TO san Francisco.
san Francisco Chronicle,

from San Francisco last August was
enshrouded in much mystery. She
cleared fer a Mexican poia, but the
wise acres Of the water front nodded
and shook their heads as they limited
in whispers that the cargo concealed
in the hull of the schooner was not Of
the character usually shipped 10 that
direction. Some even ventured to
suggest that the concealment attending
her departure and the objects of her
voyage pointed to the probability OF
an expedition such as that undertaken
by Sir Francis Drake in the days of
the Virgin Queen, or rivaling the
more modern buccaneering exploits
of Morgan and Kidd. The veil OF
mystery has, however, at length been
raised by the efforts of Chronicle
reporter, and the result IS now given
te Its readers About a hundred years
ago Juan Oxlo first called attention
to the vast source of wealth concealed
IN the mud which lay at the bottom
of the waters of the Gulf of California
He discovered there immense beds of
the pearl oyster, and realized great
wealth by bringing their contents
from their watery couch. He fished
principally for the lack she'll (Concha
nacar), which is found in great guam
titles from the Sebastian bay to the
mouth OF the Rio Colorado. After his
death the industry was followed in a
eesultory fashion all about 1859,
From that time till 1872 it was pure
suep in a more systematic manner, the
trade, however, being
PRACTICALLY MoNOPoLIZED BY THE
AGENTS
of wealthy European houses, who
established themselves on tbe lower
peninsula and purchased the boarns
and shells on the ground as soon as
removed from the water. About that
time some of the merchants of La Paz
discovered that they could deal direct
ly with Paris, London, and Hamburg,
ana save the profits of the middle man,
and the European agents were, so TO
spead, starved out. Still the fishing
was conducted on the old and time
honored system of using divers train
ed by long experience to remain per.
haps two or at most three minutes
under water. In 1875, however, two
echooners, each of about 200 tons, one
from Australia, the other from ERg-
land went TO those waters, literally
supplied with diving apparatus,
helmets, rubber suits, hose, and life
lines and thirteen boats and boats
crews to operate them. With the aid
of these appliances they made a clear
profit IN six months of 1925, 600. The
hitherto s0mnolent inhabitants of La
Paz were supplied with amazement at
seeing this wealth removed from un-
der their very noses, while they were
at the same time awakened to the ina
mense opportunities afforded to ac-
quire wealth which the lavish hand of
nature had SO unsparingly scattered
at their very doors.
A BONANZA CONCESSION.
The merchants engaged in the fish
cries purchased the diving apparatus
from the schooners, and since that
time the divers helmet has driven the
unfortunate individuals who, unlike
our politicians, made their living by
holding their breath, entirely out of
the pearl-fishing fields Of labor. But
the advantages possessed by the pearl
fishers of La Paz were advantages
which might be shared IN common
with any other person or persons who
could command the capital necessary
to go into the same business. The
idea Of seeing strangers and aliens
come in and scoop up from the bed OF
the gulf the wealth which they were
beginning to regard their inalienable
inheritance was intOlerable. But
how to avaid was the question. That
conundrun was soon solved by the
elevation to the Mexican Presidency
General Gonzalez That gentleman
soon after his election exhibited a
partialty for the creation and main
tenance of monopolies before which
the monopolies granted by James l.
of England to Sir Giles Mompesson
and others might well pale their inef.
fectual fires. The president was APP
piled to, and by proper representa-
tons his favorable consideration was
btCufhu anu GlNbit w q pan ~ NhtCh,
on Feb. IS. 1884, q concession, or
rather five concessions, were granted
to five gentlemen, and upon the terms
which win ba stated further on. But
to understand these terms it is necas.
sary to enter into,
SOME PRELIMINARY EXPLANATION.
For the purposes Of fishing the Msxi-
can laws nave divided the waters of
the Gulf OF California from Cape ST.
Lucas to the mouth Of the Rio Colora-
da. and from the eastern coast Of
Lower California to the westerly
shore Of the mainland into FIVE zones.
The first zone extends from Cape st.
Lucas TO Ceralbo Island, the second
from Ceralbo Island to San Josef, the
third from San Josef to Carmen Is
land, the fourth from Carmen Island
TO the mouth Of the Rio Colorado,
and the fifth, comprising the waters
the island of San Josef.
Concessions, or leases, were granted
by the Mexican Government 10 Juan
Hidalgo and associates Of the first
zone 10 A alberto SANCHEZ AID associ-