Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-23

The conditions existing in the southern
waters of the Philippine possessions of the
United States and particularly about the
numerous islands of the Sulu archipelago,
are almost perfect for the development of
mother-of-pearl and the pearl-bearing mol
lusk. which requires a reefy bottom near
mud, and especially one where there is
luxurlant supply of submarine weeds, coral
cups and a growth of coral resembling
coach whips from four to Eve feet in
length. The sweeping tides and album
dance OF living reefs are particularly favor
able to the growth of the mother-of-pearl
oyster. The so-called pearl grounds OF
the United States in the Philippines con-
tain an area of about 1925 square miles,
and lie between latitude 10 degrees IS min
utes north, the southern boundary of the
United States islands, and 60 degrees 80
minutes north, and between longitude 119
degrees IS minutes east and 12 degrees
east. This area is about los maritime miles
from east to west and about 145 miles from
north to south. There are about 1876
islands in the group, nearly all inhabited,
some large and others small, dotting the
sea surface 173 miles In length from the
Basilan Strait. northeast to the Sibutu
Passage southwest to the breadth vary
ing from thirty-four to seventy-five miles
northwest and southeast AT present the
most productive pearl grounds can be found
in the extreme western waters of the lap
aran cluster of the Tawi-Tawl group. The
depths range from thirty to eighty feet,
the most favorable for naked or unhel-
meted diving The Tapul group is also
particularly famous for the excellence OF
its pearl grounds, and the superiority, and
quantity of the output. Throughout these
island waters the depth seldom attains
more than sixty feet, and the average is
about half that figure. Experts declare
that there are very few pearl shells in the
sulu waters under nine fathoms (ffty-four
feet).
Methods of Pearl Fishing.
Modern pearl fishers are equipped with
diving apparatus and all paraphernalia
to carry on the work in a businesslike
manner. These operators do not waste
time in sending down a diver to find
whether or not pearls exist In the bot
tom Of the sea, but ascertain the condi-
ton of the ground by sounding with a
leaden weight coated with soap, which
brings to the surface samples Of the bot
tom II sand and gravel are found, the
search in that particular locality is
| abandoned but IL there are any indications
OF coral OF grass seed, the boat is anchored
and operations are Immediately COM
menced. The diver equips himself practic-
ally in the same manner as other divers
and takes with him the necessary tools
for dislodging the shells and a basket in
which to send them to the boat The great
! est depth at which a diver can work is
| twenty-five fathoms, but the pressure Is
so great that labor cannot be sustained
| dxfa time R6-
cause of the danger and limited results at
| this great depth the shallow beds in from
hfteen TO twenty fathoms, where the diver
can work almost an hour without rest are
/ most sought after. About eight hours are
easily employed in diving, after which the
\ shells are opened, cleaned and the pearls
| extracted The size of the she'll is usually
| about nine inches in diameter. The divers
| ind the hshing a good deal OF lottery,
as only about per cent OF the shells con-
! tain pearls, and these are found within
| the shell or imbedded in 1t, and often in
! the oyster meat itself, the size varying
| from pin head to a large bead. They are
either leaden gray, golden hued OF water
] colored, the last being Of the highest
value. Sometimes as many as dozen
pearls have been found in one shell, and II
| is related that one shell was found some
years ago containing sixty-five pearls.
| The pearl fishery carried on in modern
way is exclusively in the hands OF the
Chinese. head man, Tiana at Jolo, who
owns a fully equipped feet Of six boats
| OF ten tons each. crew OF seven men
besides the captain mans each boat. The
Chinese market both the shells and pearls
at Singapore,
Pearl Fishing by the Natives.
The pearl fishing OF the natives is on
such a very small scale that the output is
not very great They dive without any
equipment OF any kind. but manage to
reach the depth of ten fathoms, and al
times they will remain under the water
for two minutes and return to the surface
with a shell in each hand. on the best
grounds diver seldom makes more than
fifteen dives in the course OF a morning
and often obtains shells enough without
counting the chances Of securing pearls
in ave or six dives TO support himself and
family for a month. Slaves are compelled
70 go out more frequently and dive oftener
The pearling season In the sulu group Is
from April 20 December, during which
months IL Is conducted with the greatest
activity. The natives use boats on small
canoes, which are well built and capable
OF resisting rather fierce weather. They
are equipped with the Malay triangular
mast and the sail is OF grass mating and
reeds. Ropes Of Manila hemp are used