The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-10

divers are careful to dry their bodies thorough
ly after each descent and to take sufficient
rest. Between dives they often smoke pipe
or cigarette sometimes while in the water Just
preparatory to dive.
The divers have learned by experience that
they may increase the length OF their sub
mergence by making number OF deep. forced
respiratory efforts before taking the plunge.
Most exaggerated stories have been told and
are still current regarding the length OF time
the divers can remain under water.
The Arab divers wear nose-clasps of flexible
horn attached to cord around their neck,
while the divers of other races simply com.
press their nostrs by hand during the de-
scent This practice can hardly make any diff
ference In efficiency and we must conclude
that the expertness OF the Arabs depends on
an aptitude born Of long experience.
Their usual time below the surface is go to
20 seconds. the normal maximum not exceed
Ing 80 seconds while the Tamil and Moormep
divers range from 35 to so or 60 seconds, de-
pending on the depth. There Is we'll authen
tcated case In 1887 of an Arab who remained
under for 109 seconds In water fathoms deem.
Under the arrangement that has prevailed
Tor many years. the divers are allowed to re-
tain one-third OF their catch, to dispose of as
they please. The government retains the re-
mainder and sells 1t at auction
1t is very difficult matter to extract tbo
pearls from perfectly fresh oysters either BY
slght or by touch. or by both combined: conse-
quently 1t has long been the practice to allow
the decomposition OF the soft parts before the
search for the pearls Is begun
Inc oysters are piled into dugout canoes
ana covered with mating or else set aside in
coarse sacks for to 10 days. Bacterial nutre
faction Is supplemented by the work of blow
mes and their larvae, and at the end of the
period stated the disintegration, decompos,
ton and digestion OF the oysters have nro-
crossed SO far that. there is little left but
pearls. smells. slime and foreign matter adber-
Ing TO the shells. together with large volume
OF maggots. The first step in the cIeanino
process is the flooding OF the canoe to the
brim; then the naked natives ranged on eth.
er Side OF the vessel remove the shells wash.
ing and rinsing them and removing any detrj
tus In which pearl may lodge
eternal vigilance must be exercised nv tho
owners TO prevent the theft OF pearls and ono
OF the precautions taken Is to forbid the waab.
ers TO remove their hands from the water ax
cept 10 drop at their feet the cleansed sbals
me shells having been removed. the canoe
is nlled with water again and again and the
@ curry is kneaded and stirred in order that the
lighter filth may be floated on The water 4.
nnally decanted and the heavier debri. 49,,
tanning the pearls is removed with scrupuous
cars and wrapped in cotton cloth. undergoing
preliminary search for the largest pearls and
numerous subsequent examinations in the
course Of drying.
.'. ..'eu mater is tnen sifted and sorted and
gone over again and again; and then when "A
would appear that even the dust pearls must
all have been extracted. the debris passes for
a nnal search into the hands OF women ana
children whose sharp eyes and delicate tonch
enable them to discover an amazingly large
quan.y OF small pearls. The material then
remaining is offered for sale and always f,nds
ready buyers '"uS
ine most productive fishery in the recorded
history OF Ceylon was held in 1905. Three
hundred and eighteen vessels participated and
aur'ng the season that extended from February
~ 70 April 21 over si.ooOooo pearl oysters
were landed, whereas the best previous Ash.
cry. In 1891. yielded only 1000 900. On n,,n,.
Der OF days over 100000 oysters were oh.
tained and one day. when 5.O05. 900 were tai.
en-. a record was established that may never
again be equalled