The Elbert County tribune., 1912-08-31

learned from him many facts concerning pearl
formation and the natural history Of the pearl
oyster.
Mikmoto's home Toba in the province of
Shma. of the localities in Japan famous for
large yields of pearls. Directly after his return
there he began experimenting his newly
quired idea. At first It seemed almost like pur-
suing 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 on suggestions and advice from Prof.
Mitsukuri and DR. Kshinoue. 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
thing of the past and the enterprise was put on
a commercial basis. patent for the method
was obtained from the government and the cuIti-
walton of the pearloyster extensive scale
was begun at the Island of Tatokujima in the
Bay of Ago. At the end of 1899 the first, though
small, crop of pearls harvested and placed
on the market.
The methods practsed at the peari-oyster farm
are follows:
Every year during the months of July and
August small pieces of rock and stone are placed
in spot where the larvae of the pearLoysters
have been found to be most abundant Soon
small oyster-spat are found attached to them AS
this takes place In the shallow waters of not
more than few fathoms they would die from
cold, II left there during the winter, SO together
with the rocks to which they are anchored they
are removed to deeper waters and carefully laid
ont 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 which are to- serve as
the nuclei of pearls. The shells are then nut
back into the and left undisturbed for at least
TOUR years more. At the end of that time, they
are taken out, and 1t is found that the animal
has invested the inserted nucleus with many lay-
in has in foot
large part of the submarine work, such as the
transplanting of the oysters spreading them out
on the beds, taking them of the sea or puttfny
them back there is done by women divers This
is universal In the Ago Bay and many other parts
OF Japan. Ihere has been belief from time i'm
memorial that women can work better and Ionpar
under water than men. the the women divers of
lse are aforementioned in sssic literature
Ihese women divers are trained from a very
carry age and they seem to have inherited through
many generations special aptitude for the water
hfe 1t is said that they 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 wooden bucket of moderate size
which is connected to the diver by means of n
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 m a,x
hours In which time 500 oysters can easily he
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, a shrill whistling sound When so or mora
are working together this peculiar noise is al
most incessant
As considerable part of their life is snent 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 necessarv fo,
.he 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 their occupation causes them to age prcr.a-
turey. Their skin becomes rough and coarse
and their hair bright red