Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-07-02
HOMEGROWN Pearls.
BY CHARLES A. SIDMAN.

There are many peculiar industries
and trades, but probably one of the
most peculiar Of these is pearl oys-
ter farm. Japan, the land of odd OBJ
jects, dwarf trees and ancient tenn
pies, boasts of possessing such farm.
The pearl oysters are found more or
less along the whole coast. There
are some localities famous for pro.
ducing them in quantities, and many
fine pearls have been obtained.
There was time when fishing for
these precious shells was carried to
an excess, so that the yield of pearls
dwindled to almost nothing. To over
come this difficulty the desirability
of cultivating the pearl oyster was
suggested and met with instant favor.
Experiments were carried out with
great success, the result being that
to-day the pearl oyster. farm has mill
ions of pearl oysters on its culture
ground, and is able to place annually
a large crop of pearls on the market.
This pearl oyster farm is in the
Bay of Ago, on the Pacific side of
japan. The bay, like all in which
the oyster grows in abundance, Is a
very quiet piece of water with most
irregular, highly broken up coast line
full of deep running inlets and coves,
affording most favorable shelter. The
farm is arranged in two parts, the
first part containing the young up to
the age of three years, and the sec
ond part holding those that are over
that age.
The breeding season of the oyster
is from July to August, and before
this comes around, namely, in May
to June, stones are placed over the
bottom of the grounds in the shall
lower parts, in order that the young
may attach themselves to them, and
by August the tiny shells are discov-
cred attached to these stones by their
byssus, the number increasing stead
lily with the season.
The shells are allowed to lie as
they are until November, and then
those that are near the shore are re-
moved, with the stones on which they
are anchored, into depths greater
than five to six feet. This is neces-
sary to protect them from cold, from
the effects of which they are apt to
die in the course of the winter If left
in the original places The young
shells are then left quietly and al
lowed to grow for three years, or re-
moved to deeper wator, where they
have more space and find more food.
At the end of three years, when the
young oysters ere from two to three
inches long, they are taken out OF
the water, and the operation OF put
ting nuclei in the shells is performed
after which they are again put back
into the sea and spread out at the
rate of about thirty to every six
square feet. They are left alone for
four years more, and at the end ol
that time, or seven and half years
from the beginning of their life, they
are taken out of the water and
opened. The cultivated pearls" are
thus harvested and put on the market
There are many enemies OF the
pearl oyster, as well as unexpected
difficulties in the raising of them
They are attacked by small worm
which eats their shells, are eaten by
octopuses. and enveloped by growing
sponges, which kill them.
Many of the cultivated or culture
pearls are either half pears or only a
little more than half pearls. but as
regards luster, shape and size, are
most autiful.-Scientifi American