The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-29


The head diver, who usually worAs
Independently. Operates N troin I i,s
10 hfty feet % water, a. when ueps.n
the oysters can be seen on the clear snndy
bottom. and remains under from my
20 ninety seconda although some OF the
most Injured remain under much longer
The writer has seen a native Pananan
diver remain submerged for two minutes
and ten sscOnda. but ON reachlne w
surface he was m exhausted that ne 49, y. ~
h. dmRRed into the boat and was unilt ior
further diving that morning. Deep dlv
ing Causas deafness, and after several sea-
sons work this hscomea quite acute.
There are two Glasses b head divers,
thosa that 20 down had first. 81 do many
Fast Indians. Malays and PoiYneslans
and who use no weights 10 iarih.ate
descent. and those who go down ieet
flrHt. with one foot caught Ia loop ot
the rope attached TO the weight While
Others have the weight fastened 20 thelr
waists. releasing Il on ascending Oh
filing the basket. or on beeoming eA-
hatlsted. the diver releases his loot from .aa
the loop and attaches the later 70 tne
basket ascending independenty OF
times hand over hand M the rope when
hauled taut Both classes carry tne
divers knife inoased in = tubular sheath.
with which he cuts the oyster loosa Ir9 9,
the rock 10 which Il clings bv a greelnlsn
black fbrom heard. The diver receiNe-'
a monthly salary and tenth OF "ha' Nv
finds 49,,
The greater part Of the shell u shipped
% San Francisco. the pearls golrg 70
Mexico city aud Paris. In 1878 the pro.
diIction Of these fisheries was valued sI
81. OO.O ON. the pearls repTesente1 Ss'o"''"o'
and mother Of pearl shell the rest
aral ~ - NIa
great variety Of shapes and color. round
near shapef hutton pearl or fat on one
side. hAroaue or pearl Of irregular shape
and in color ranging from white ana pms
I 20 blue. green. brown and black. some
very famous pearls of history have been
! taken from these waters. One OF the hnOe.
beautiful gems Of the Spanish crown
! 10 an enormous Mexican pearl found near
| IsoretO by a native diver and weighing
en- grains.
With handy an exception there are
/ American pearls amOng the crown leN eis
Of every ruler in Europe In lnos ~ ne
worlds fair In Paris there was exhihtel
a set of seven black pearls from these
Z MeSicaa fisheries valued az So ,0Oo al that
| time. and to-day worth much more. One
! Of the largest pearls ever found here Was
/ sold in Paris 20 the Emperor OF Austria
! for SiO.ODo. ard the spanish Government
prs-entsi Napoleon III. with a black
MeNicAn pearl valued AZ Q5.0oO. In the
early sos three MAGNIFICENT black peare
| were found on the IA paz fisheries rang,
| ing in weight from ~ 20 Is carats and
/ worth from seen 20 s9.ue each.
A very beautiful ppGri 81 . delicate
| hrOwnisb tint was ALDO found about the
/ same time. weighing rs carats ard valued
/ az 5000. The brown. green, blue and
U aaaa MANlUT
7 and Panama are famous for the combine
tons Of these colOrs found IN the pearls
| from their coasts. Sehora Dlak, vile o.
| President Dag Of Mexico. has maEnin
1 cent collection Of Mexican pearls which
I rivals many Of the famous collection,
/ II Europe. Among the poorest natives q
| Mexico beautiful pearls are often 20 b
| found. usually cTudely mounted in rings
4 combs, earrings, chains, &c.
The Gulf Of Mexico was AZ one time
! famous for It's production Of the rare
/ black pearl. and quite a number OF these
| have recently been taken from the bedt
| in the Gulf OF Campeche.
Other American pearl fisheries are on
/ the coasts % Venezuela, Of Panama. Of
| Colombia and Of Costa Rica. Ihess
fisheries are famous for gTeeniah blaot
The twin towers Of the old Cathedra
Of Panama are thickly studded with
mother Of pearl shells Of exceptional
sire and beauty from the nearby fisheries
and on a clear morning. just ~ the sur
seems 10 rise out 81 the Parihc from he
hind Chepillo % the eastward ard sud
denly lights up it, gray white Wals
through the line 81 royal palms on IN
eastern side. their cOncaye nacreOus sur
faces reflect the rava in thousands Ot tiny
] mink and white hFhta
In the clear depths Of the sheltered
waters Of many an atoll Of the south
Parihq often o. feet below the surface
pearls 81 great beauty AND value have
been found by the expert PolynesiaT
head divers The women here enEag'
in diving too, often rivaliing the men il
endurance They first cover their bOdie'
with preparation Of cOcoanut oil anS
In many cases nee no weights 20 facilitate
their descent The bronze tinted pear
30 much sought after by the oOlleot0
comes principally from these islands
although the brown and gray tinted pear
Of the west coast u the Americas 4
equally a. beautiful and a. much In de
mand