Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1912-09-21
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learned from him many facts concerning pearl
formation and the natural history of the pearl
oyster.
Mikimoto'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 ac-
CURED idea. At frs 1t seemed almost like pur-
suing a feetng SHADOW and HE friends laughed
at him for throwing his money into the sea-"
He, however, persisted, trying all sort of expert
ments and changing his methods from time to
time, relying 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 far
progressed that the experimental stage a
thing of the past and the enterprise put
a commercial basis. patent for the new method
obtained from the government; and the cult
walton of the pearloyster an extensive scale
begun at the Island of Tatokujima 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 practsed at the pearLoyster farm
are 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 pear-oysters
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
cold, If left there during the winter, so together
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 sea and left undsturbed for at least
TOUR years more AT the end of that time, they
are taken out, and It Is found that the animal
has invested the inserted nucleus with many lay
ers OF nacre and has in fact produced a pearl
A large part of the submarine work. such as the
transplantlng 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
or Japan. There has been 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
lhese women divers are trained from a very
early age. and they seem to have inherited through
many generations special aptitude for the water
lie. 1t Is said that they able to save enough
money by the time they of age to pay for their
wedding expenses
The oysters secured while under water are
dropped into 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
days work consists OF from four TO six
hours In which time 500 oysters can easily be
gathered at depth Of two to six fathoms On
coming up and preparing for another plunge. the
diver takes deep and quick breath which pro.
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 70,
the women divers to go ashore several times dur
Ing their work to warm themselves by a FIRE
They are very healthy. but the severe nature
OF ther occupation causes them to age prema.
turely. Their skin becomes rough ana noars.
and their hair bright red