Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-25

sn.iuy after nightfall of a pleasant evening
our little steamer sailed out of the harbor of Co
lombo, bound for the "peary Shores" for
anchorage few miles off the port of Arppu.
near which place the pearlfshng fleet to be-
gin operations at the rising of the In Cey-
Ion the oyster beds under government super
vision and about March of each year a great
pearl-fishng expedition hovers tie waters
of the Gulf of Mannar. The personnel of the
fleet is made up of Malays. Arabs Indians, Singa.
lese and those from various other branches of
lndias teeming Millions
The experience of the stranger with the unique
heet is not disappointing. The sight of thou
sands OF divers from hundreds of little boats.
piunging into the water riding downward
astride heavy weights, rising with their treas
ures, others returning to the watery depths. the
babel OF strange voices combine to paint a pic
turesQue and lasting impression upon the mind
of the visitor.
The waters around Ceylon and those of the
Gulf of California have the richest pearproduc-
Ing oyster beds in existence. Situated on oppo-
site sides of the earth. 1t is interesting to COM
pare the work of the pearl hunters divers so
far separated, yet pursuing many methods in
common in the search for precious gems beneath
the waters. In Ceylon upon given signal the
diving begins; the boats small and hold com
fortably eight twelve persons. The men
wear few clothes. and each man takes turn at
diving, for all of them appear to be experts.
rope with weight attached is thrown the
side of the boat, the diver attaches himself to
the rope. and his assistant lowers him into the
water. Other divers plunge downward unassist-
ed. Around the diver hangs a bag, within which
he places the oysters rapidly he pick
them from the bottom.
On the Mexican coast, of which La Paz is the
general rendezvous, the method of pearling is
much the same as in Ceylon. Many of the YES
sells used larger. and the modern diving suit
is in evidence. There is usually large
sailboat called the mother" and probably half
dozen smaller ones termed "luggers." The lat
ter are manned by a crew OF six or eight men.
two of whom are divers. The small boats
their catches frequent intervals to
the larger vessel standing by. where the shells
opened and carefully examined for pearls.
What is a pearl? Before considering other
pearl-hshing grounds, especially those OF the
Americas, it may be of interest to know just how
the pearl is produced that Is SO far as the scen-
tifc reader is concerned. One of the shortest
and most striking definitions is that suggested
by French scientist, who says "a pearl is the
brilliant sarcophagus of a worm" Others go
more into detail and declare that the growth OF
the pearl is often associated with a possible de-
gree of annoyance pain. The tiny deposit that
finds itself within the shell of a mollusk or oyster
may be introduced accidentally or purposely. as
we shall later The foreign substance within
the shell is believed to irritate the oyster and
he begins to cover It with a series of thin layers
of calcium carbonate. Little by little these pc
culiar layers formed, and in a few years a
beautiful pearl may be the result. or the forma-
ton may prove absolutely worthless.
Forthcoming mollusks are widely distributed
over the world, and they may be univalves or
bivalves; in the former shape sometimes find
ther, in conchs and in the latter classification in
clans and oysters. The subject in various rami-
fcations has proved interesting and fascinating
10 investigators; but this story is only general
talk about the pearl and the scientific details are
left to those who make serious study OF the
nature of this famous and muchprized ornament.
Saltwater pearl fishing in the Americas has
been pursued from our earliest history. and while
these pearling waters may not be as encient as