The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06
By Hamilton Wright.

II MILLION dollars, probably. and
thousands OF lives are rislzed
II each year in the sulu Sea
delving into ocean depths for
the great, rOugh-shelled bivalve which
occasionally contains a pearl worth a
kings ransom. Jolo is one OF the fore
most pearling ports OF the world. The
Chinese here have large interests in
the industry, and there are Americans,
Spaniards. Filipinos, Ceylonese, Sin
galese and Arabs engaged in one phase
or another OF the business" All the
MorOs are interested in pearling and
a considerable percentage Of the popu-
lation Of the Sulu Archipelago gains
q livelihood by engaging in this peril
Gus pursuit The entire population OF
Jolo Cthe town dabbles in pearls.
CurbstOne traders are numerous, and
they have 10 offer a tremendous variety
OF sizes and shapes, kinds and colors.
One who has the least instinct Of a
trader cannot resist the temptation to
buy, pitting his judgment against tl.ese
brokers
A greater gamble than the buying
OF the pearls is undertaken by the pearl
fishers. Because Of the great risks
involved ana LIt possible fortune 10 De
gained at a stroke the occupation has
q fascination scarcely resisted by those
who have once experienced Il. Because
OF the great variety Of people who
search for pearls, the vast area OF the
hunting grounds, the centuries old Gus
toms of the Moros, no reliable statistics
can be obtained that will approximate
the profits
Pearling is a game Of hazard for
high stakes. The pearler must risk
capital and human life must brave the
sea and 90 prepared TO fight for his
rights with savage men, and he must
pay the taxes and divide the profits
with the shrewd traders from Ceylon
and Singapore.
Sometimes fortune smiles Joseph
Travis, a well-known journalist resid-
ing IN Manila, says that three years
ago a single pearl was marketed in the
Celebes for 36, 1000 pesos. 1t came from
the Sulu Sea. During the following
year pearl brought to Jolo was sold
In Singapore for $4,000 pesos, and last
year one sold for $3.50 pesos. Such
finds rarely come to public notice.
Shrewd traders are always on hand to
snatch them away from the ignorant
and fearful divers, and the jewel is
first exposed for sale in Paris, London
or Dutch port. Probably the man
who places il on the marker does not
know nor care for its history.
Thousands Of pearls Of less value are
found every year, ranging in prices
from one-half to 1000 pesos. Some
times a rough looking pearl, by the
process OF 'skinning", is reduced to a
smaller but more perfect gem and its
value enhanced a hundredfold
Pearl shells are themselves very
valuable in the markets of the world.
The mother Of pearl taken from them
commands high price 1t is main
.ained that the shell alone pays a good
profit on a substantial investment. and
that the pearls taken from the catch
are clear profit At the present time
The monthly shipments OF shells from
JOlo amount 10 about $50 piculs, valued
at 45 pesos per picul in Jolo. AS il
does not take more than thirty or
thirty FIVE pairs OF shells to make a
picul. good gathering OF shells is ex-
iremely profitable.
Nearly all shells contain pearls OF
more or less value. Captain Tiana, the
prominent Chinese merchant who has
been many years in the industry. says
that in the general run the value OF
pearls taken VIII equal the value OF
shells. that is. not counting any very
valuable pearls. which are rare.