Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-24

Shortly after nightfall of a pleasant evening
our little steamer sailed out of the harbor of Co
lombo, bound for the "pearly shores" for an
anchorage a few miles off the port Of Arippu,
near which place the pearlfshing fleet was to be-
gin operations at the rising of the sun. In Cey-
Ion the oyster beds are under government super
vision, and about March of each year a great
pearl-fshing expedition hovers over the 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
midas teeming millions.
The experience of the stranger with the unique
fleet is not disappointing. The sight Of thou
sands of divers from hundreds Of little boats.
plunging into the water or riding downward
aastride 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 pearl-produc-
ing oyster beds In existence. Situated on oppo-
site sides of the earth, it is interesting to com
pare the work Of the pearl hunters or divers, so
far separated, yet pursuing many methods in
common in the search for precious gems beneath
the waters. In Ceylon upon a given signal the
diving begins; the boats are small and hold COM
fortably eight or twelve persons. The men
wear few clothes, and each man takes a turn at
diving, for all Of them appear to be experts. A
rope with weight attached ID thrown over 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 as rapidly as he can pick
them from the sea 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
sels used are larger, and the modern diving suit
is more in evidence. There is usually a large
ssailboat called the mother ana probably half a
dozen smaller ones termed "luggers." The lat
ter are manned by a crew Of six or eight men.
one or two Of whom are divers. The small boats
transfer. their catches at frequent intervals to
the larger vessel standing by, where the shells
are opened and carefully examined for pearls.
What Is a pearl? Before considering other
pearlfishing 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 scien-
tifc reader is concerned. One Of the shortest
and most striking definitions is that suggested
by a 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 or pain. The tiny deposit that
finds itself within the shell of a mollusk or oyster
may be introduced accidentally or purposely, as
we shall see later. The foreign substance within
the shell is believed to irTitate the oyster and
he begins to cover it with a series of thin layers
of calcium carbonate. Little by little these pc
culiar layers are formed, and in a few years a
beautiful pearl may be the result, or the forna
ton may prove absolutely worthless.
Forthcoming mollpsks are widely distributed
over the world, and they may be uniyalyes q
biyalves; in the former shape we sometimes fine
them in conchs and in the latter classification II
clans and oysters. The subject In various ramt
fcations has proved interesting and fascinating
to Investigators; but this story is only q genera
talk about the pearl and the scientihc details ar
left III those who make a serious study OF tht
nature Of this famous and much-prized ornament
Saltwater pearl fishing III the Americas hai
been pursued from our earliest history, and whil'
these pearling waters may not be as ancient a