Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-23
MUCH WEALTH UNDER WATER
Importance Of the Pearl and She'll Fisheries
of the Philippines.
sULU GROUNDS SAID TO Be UNRNALED
Methods Pursued by Natives and
Organized COmpanies-PrOhtab
Snap Enjoyed by the
sultan.
From a Stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, July 22-The pearl and
shell fisheries in the Sulu group of the Phil
ippine archipelago promise to be an import
ant industry in the near future. In fact,
it has already assumed very large proper
lions, but the manner In which It is con.
Quoted has prevented very much in the way
OF actual knowledge of the industry from
coming to public notice. More than two
years ago the secretary of state wrote to
the secretary of war suggesting the advisa-
bility of taking some action looking to the
preservation of the pearl fisheries OF the
Philippine islands for the benefit of the
United States The secretary OF war i'm
mediately directed the governor general of
the Philippines to make thorough investi-
cation Of the pearl fisheries of the Sulu
| group with view to protecting the inter-
ests of the United States government I'm
der this authority the governor general OF
| the Philippines has made a complete inquiry
! and gathered all information possible con-
corning the pearl and shell fisheries, and
the various reports which he has submitted
are an important part OF the bureau Of in
formation in the insular division, relating
to the Philippine islands.
Under the SuItan's Control.
On account OF the Importance of the pearl
IL
probably be necessary for the United States
to negotiate with the sultan of sulu in or
der that this government shall obtain com
| plete control and disposition OF this valu-
able industry. The sultan OF Sulu has proc-
| tically absolute sway in the group of
| Islands where the pearls are found and
under the Spanish laws and the Moro Gus
toms, he has exercised jurisdiction and as
sumed ownership Of everything from the
straits south OF Mindanao to Borneo. and
from an indefinite line in the China sea
west Of Palawan to an indefinite line in
| the ocean east OF the chain Of islands
forming the sulu group and including tho
important islands Of Basilan, Sulu (Jolo)
siassi' Tabul and Tawi Tawi He claims
the ownership Of all the shells ana pearls
In the archipelago. and these claims arc
and always have been recognized by the
Moros The natives who. do most OF the
fishing pay for their privilege by giving
or selling to the sultan at a nominal price
all pearls Of a certain size or value. These
natives regard the pearls simply as an in
cident to the Industry, as the shells weigh
ing about three pounds a pair, are TO them
the most valuable product of the COM
merce. These shells are sold in Singapore
and In China, and also in London Chinese
merchants who deal largely in shells nav
from 20 to GO cents pound. Mexican for
the shells and 80 to 40 cents in gold.
The shells which enter largely into the
commerce are found in beds in different
parts OF the archipelago. and In water OF
from one fathom to greater depths than
the natives can dive for them. Diving
suits, however. are used to a limited ex-
tent, and two companies, one Chinese and
the other English, with headquarters at
Jolo' are engaged in the business ana
gather mother Of pearl, black and snail
shells The black shell is considered nearly
as valuable as the mother of pearl. Some
question will undoubtedly arise over the
rights OF these companies to fish in the
waters Of the Sulu group If the United
states asserts It's rights. The English
company claims an exclusive right but II
Is doubtful whether such rights granted
by the sultan Of sulu viii be recognized.
suIu Grounds said to he UnrivaIed.
Although all pearl and shell fisheries
are covered with water, they are always
technically referred to as grounds" a
designation that has been used Tor a
great many years. The sulu grounds
known up to the present time have been
practically unknown 10 the world at large
and very little TO commerce, but experts
whS have made an investigation say that
so Tar as the quality OF the product and
the possibility OF development are con-
cerned, these grounds" rank with the
famous ancient grounds" of Csylon and
the Persian gulf and the more modern
areas developed IN Australia and Torres
strait. Some authorities say that the sulJ
archipelago now contributes the greatest
number Of the finest pearls known e
commerce. while others say that while tn,
pearls are very valuable and can be OBJ
tained in large quantities. the principa
feature OF the commerce win be the mother
OF pearl and other shells.