Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-08-29

learned from him many facts concerning pearl
formation and the natural history OF the pearl
oyster.
Aikimoto's home was Toba in the province of
Shima, one of the localities in Japan famous for
large yields Of pearls. Directly after his return
there he began experimenting on his newly &C.
CURED idea. At first it seemed almost like pur-
suing a feeting shadow and HE friends laughed
at him for throwing his money into the sea-"
He however, persisted, trying all sort of expert
meuts and changing his methods from time to
time, relying on suggestions and advice from Prof.
Mitsukuri and DR.. Kishinoue. At the end of four
years of hard work, disappointment and renewed
efforts, some results were obtained which seemed
to promise success. In 1896 things had so far
progressed that the experimental stage was
thing of the past and the enterprise put
a commercial basis A patent for the method
was obtained from the government and the cult
walton of the pearIoyster on an extensive scale
begun at the Island of Tatokuiima, in the
Bay of Ago At the end of 1899 the first, though
small, crop of pearls was harvested and placed
on the market.
The methods practised at the pearLoyster farm
follows:
Every year during the months of July and
August small pieces of rock and stone are placed
in a spot where the larvae of the pearEoysters
have been found to be most abundant. Soon
small oyster-spat found attached to them. AS
this takes place in the shallow waters of not
more than few fathoms, they would die from
with the rocks to which they are anchored they
are removed to deeper waters and carefully laid
out in the beds prepared for them. Here they lie
until they reach their third year, when they are
taken out of the sea, and undergo an operation
which leads to pearl formation. This consists
chiefly in introducing into them the small pearls
or round pieces of nacre which are to serve as
the nuclei of pearls The shells are then put
back into the and left undisturbed for at least
four years more At the end of that time they
n alan ont md IL
has invested the inserted nucleus with many lay
ers Of nacre and has in fact produced pearl
A large part of the submarine work, such as the
uansplanting of the oysters spreading them out
on the beds taking them out of the sea or putting
them back there is done by women divers This
is universal in the Ago Bay and many other parts
OF Japan. There has been a belief from time i'm
memorial that women can work better and longer
under water than men, the the women divers of
lse are often mentioned in classic literature
THESE women divers are trained from a very
early age and they seem to have inherited through
many generations special aptitude for the water
life. 1t is said that they are able to save enough
money by the time they are of age to pay for their
wedding expenses.
The oysters secured while under water are
dropped into a wooden bucket Of moderate size
which is connected to the diver by means OF a
rope attached to her waist The average dive
occupies rather less than minute In that time
several mollusks being cropped
A days work consists OF from four to six
hours, in which time 500 oysters can easily be
gathered at a depth of two 10 six fathomg On
coming up and preparing for another plunge. the
diver takes a deep and quick breath which DO
duces shrill whistling sound. When so or more
are working together this peculiar noise is al
most incessant.
AS considerable part of their life Is spent in
the sea, the prolonged exposure to water and
sunshine makes their skins very dark and their
hair reddish.
The water is fairly cold and it is necessary for
the women divers to go ashore several times dur
ing their work to warm themselves by fire
They are very healthy, but the severe nature
of their occupation causes them to age prema
turely. Their skin becomes rough and coarse
and their hair bright red