The Natchitoches enterprise., 1912-10-03

formation and the natural history of the pearl
oyster
- .Mikimoto's home was Toba il the province Of
Shima one 81 the localities n 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 feeting 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. Kishinoue. At the end of four
years of hard work, disappointment and renewed
efforts, some results were obtained which seemed
to promise success. In 1895 things had so far
progressed that the experimental stage
thing of the past AND the enterprise put
a commercial basis. A patent for the new method
was obtained from the government, and the cult
walton of the pearloyster on an 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 was harvested and placed
on the market.
The methods practised at the pearloyster 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 pearkoysters
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 and left undsthrbed for at least
four years more At the end of that time they
are taken out, and it is found that the animal
mas invested the inserted nucleus with many lay
ers OF nacre and has in fact produced pearl
large part of the submarine work. such as the
ransplanting 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 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 wooden bucket of moderate size
which is connected to the diver by means eli a
rope attached to her waist. The average dive
occupies rather less than a 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 a depth of two to six fathoms, On
coming up and preparing for another plunge the
aver takes deep and quick breath which pro-
ouces snriil whistling sound. When. so or more
are working together this peculiar noise is al
most incessant
AS a 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
Inc water Is fairly cold and 1t is necessary for
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 their occupation causes them to age prema.
turely Their skin becomes rough and coarse
and their hair bright red