The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-11

1 porcos as they came toward us, giving l them to the natives for a feast,
 l According to the agreement between
 the divers and the owners of the yes-
 sci the latter were to provide food ana 1 accommodation for the divers during
 the trip, but instead of regular wages 1 the divers were to receive one-half the 1 oysters found, with such pearls as ] might be found in them. In order to
 carry out this program the oysters,
 when received on the vessel, were df- Vlded into two classes-large and small
 the natives taking one-half of each class and the vessel the other half At certain times, when a sufficient supply of oysters had been stacked on deck, the opening performance com menced. Those belonging ito the vessel were first opened by a native, who held the oyster over large tub, into which
 the meat fell, while the shells were laid aside. As each oyster was opened the
 the meat was rubbed between the fing-
 CTS to find any pearls it might contain
 which were then handed to the captafn
 ot the vessel, who stood watch over the
 native during the operation of opening
 After all belonging to the vessel had
 peeh opened the meat was again care
 fully scanned and then thrown over-
 board.
 Next came the turn of opening the
 pile of oysters belonging to the natives,
 on the contents of which depended their pay, according as chance accorded them
 8 greater or less number of pearls
 or large or small size. The entire crew
 Kept watch of their oyster opener and |
 occasionally assisted in a second care ful scrutiny of the mear, rest one Or more small pearls might have been overlooked. After the find of pearls had been collected they were carefully weighed and valued.
 The crew had the choice of keenirg tfem and dividing such money as they might be able to obtain from their sale to various parties in Panama, or selIinsr them at once to the master of the ves- SCI Tor a sum Of from 50 to 60 per cent In cash of their appraised value. This latUer course was the one almost aI- ways followed, and whether the . amount paid them was large or small the result of the syndicate was ths same for 1t obtained all the pearls at 1 small pecuniary outlay plus the ex- oeRse of the vessel and cost of main- ,enance of the crew.
 After the fisheries had continued for iome years in this way the princ,nal | 'eds of oysters, which were close to a more and lying at depth which could I 'e reached by the native divers, had c become somewhat depleted. It occur S "a to some one that it would be good oea to form stock company and nur- s ue the fishery with the aid of a diving o 'ell, which would enable the man or c nen who descended to it to collect inc t ysters from any depth below the sur- ace of the water O
 me necessary permits having been W oIdh1ed rom the authorities at Pan- fna' a company was formed, composed W rlhclpally of Scotchmen, and in due W lme about thirty men arrived at Pana- W la' accompanied by a diving bell and ir ne necessary machinery, air, pumns u etc.
 Much was expected from their in- p ended explorations in deep ~vator n round the island, but they had count- D, l "Ithout Knowing the effects of tha rS 'oplcal climate on the health of di rangers from the northern c1in,os h, nd the men who were not acclimated le nd who would not accommodate tban, 'l'es to the habits and customs of tho " ot climate and continued their Enro- can manner of living and eating he- lme i'll. First one, then two or throe n time contracted yellow fever,wbich A Sloe or six weeks proved fatal to more @ lan twenty of their party. The remaining members became dis. E and, fearful of the same fate 'ertaking them as had befaIlen their
 lost no time in returning to 'eir homes. The diving bell and ma nnery remained for some time as a W lriosity at Panama, but no parties M Ter returned to claim it, nor has inc e or one ever since been attempted. N During the fishing season the divers E ways made their descent from inc M sseI between the hours of g a. m. and ron, remaining idle for the balance ot e day When asked why they did no E 1rk in the way of gathering oysters B
 the afternoon I was informed bv tha Vers-and they were unanimous in the M they could not see well E der water after F o'clock noon. M'