Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-11-19
Pearl Diving.

Pearl DIVING.
You know pearls are fouEd in
shell fish, at the very bottom OF the sea,
and the little fish sticks TO the rocks.
We do not know certainly what those
pearls are. nor from what they are
formed. There are several opinions on
the subject, and you must read all about
il in your natural history. | want to
tell you something about the dangers OF
looking for these precious pearls, and
YOU will never see one thatyou will not
think about the risk Of human life
which has led to its being found. 1t is
between the island OF Ceylon and Cape
-Comorin that pearl oysters are mostly
found. The strait in which the bed OF
oysters is situated is very dangerous
from rocks and whirlpools. The men
who learn this business begin in early
youth, for it requires great practice and
much courage. They have to exercise
great deal in diving, and see how long
they can remain under water. The sea-
son commences in April, and weeks be-
fore, The divers begin to diet anu ruO
themselves with oil. At sunrise they
90 in boats to the bank of pearl oysters,
about five leagues from the continent.
Then the diver takes off his clothing,
and under one arm fastens sponge
which he uses for breathing, and ties
plant before his mouth, which Will not
absorb the water. He puts a cord around
his waist, the end of which is fastened
TO the boat, and puts thirty-pound
weight to his feet, in order TO sink the
faster. He takes knife and net, and
plupges into the sea. He picks up the
oysters as fast rs possible. If he waSts
breath, he pulls the cord, and his com
panions draw him up. The oysters are
laid upon the sand, exposed to sun and
air until the shells. open. There are
generally found in them dozen pearls,
which are cleaned and prepared for
sale. They bring Il large sum, and the
oyster shells are sold for mother Oh
pearl. Before the divers go into the
water they take oil into their mouths,
which they discharge on reaching the
bottom, and it makes the water clearer.
MANY accidents occur to these poor men.
Some are seized by the inhabitants OF
the deep, AMI, sometimes remaining too
long i'm the water, they are strangled.
Some divers have killed others as the
bottom Of the sea, because one would
pick up the oyster the other wanted
The best diver can remain under The
water only about eight minutes gener-
ally, but some Indians have remained
fifteen minutes. This employment is so
hard that divers usually die young.
They seldom can follow it more than
ten wears, and some much less time.
During the last century, an invention
was made for the help OF divers for the
pearl fisheries. 1t resembles a bell, and
the diver places himself in it. This bell
is filled with air, and therefore prevents
water from filling the inside OF the ma
chine AS it falls into the sea. You VIII
understand this if you will plunge the
mouth of Il little glass into tub OF wa
ter. when you will see that the water
comes I'D only to a certain height III the
glass. The bell is covered with lead, TO
make it sink; at the 5ott om is floor,
and seat, so the diver can work, SIT
ting or standing, and, in good weather,
he can read or write in his bell, at the
bottom of the sea. A glass window at
the top gives him light, and a cock lets
out the air which he has breathed. lie
can receive air without the water com-
ing into the bell, by means OF leather
pipes, which reach up to the vessel from
which the DELL is suspended. The air III
one of these pipes being exhausted, an-
other is let down. A leaden mask was
also invented, which covers the head,
aud enables him 10 leave the bell and 60
some distance i'm the sea. This mask
,on tains enough air to last some minutes,
and Il ~ an air pipe communicating Win
the hell and gaides him back to 1t, thar
he may not uiBs his way. which would
or ,.onrs, lao =. stb TO him. By this ma
china tbay oo foS pearls TO the very
bottom of the deep, AMI remain more
than an hour. When t'S n''ei ""',
that he must ascend, he i'ss
to the vessel by pulling his ''pe' I"''
goes up from the bell. WheTa JIG ~ e'
comes up. however, he must be cautious
how lie breathes, as a sick man re cover
ing has to be cautious about the gu. Ni'y
OF TODD he eats.