The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-07-15
PEARLS GROWN
LIKE ANY OTHER
CROP IN JAPAN
Pebble Inserted in Oyster
Becomes Valuable
Gem.
Thi. IL u. third Of series % the
modern Japan and its industrial leaders.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS

Scripps-Hop ard Foreign Editor
TOBA, japan. July 15.-For the
first time, the pearl king Of japan,
Kokichi Mihmoto, has permitted
outsiders to look in on the secrets
of his pearl farm here, where oysters
are induced to yield vast quantities
Of these most precious of all gems
At will.
Centuries ago the silkworm was
known only in its wild state and
spun its cocoon haphazard Now
II is cultivated and controlled like
any other crop. In much the same
way oysters until recently produced
only an occasional pearl, and this
very much at random, and it re-
NAMED for a poor n1acaroni peddler
of this little hamlet on the Inland
sea TO solve the mystery Of the pearl
and produce it virtually without
limit
have inst been permitted to
new the entire process, from be-
ginning to end. including what goes
on inside that strange laboratory
which holds the principal secret Of
the pearl kings discovery. And here
Is how pearls are created,
Nurse Oysters Years
First the floating larvae Of oysters
are collected in specially constructed
wire cages suspended from RATS
floating in the sea. Inside are plates
To which the larvae attach them
selves.
In this manner from 10000 to
$4,000 Young oysters are nursed
along in each crate or cage for three
years. the cages being raised from
time to time to be cleaned Of para
'sitical groWths and 10 see that they
are not being harmed by their great
est enemy. the octopus. or cold or
discolored currents which sometimes
sweep in from the open sea.
At the end of three years the
oysters. now of a size. are brought |
into the laboratory. There surgeons
operate upon them. A wooden wedge /
about half an inch thick is inserted /
N hold the iaws Of the shell apart
while a tiny mother of pearl sphere,
about the size of a small bird shot.
IS covered with the membrane or
skirt Of another newly opened .
oyster and so prepared for insertion. /
Operate on Bivalvez
Nov. by means of fine. specially I
made surgical instruments, the body
Of the pearl-bearing oyster is pune
tured to depth of about half an
inch near the point where it is at |
tached TO its shell. and the mem
brane- covered bead introduced. She /
oyster is then returned. in its free .
state this time, to the bottom Of .
the sea.
For seven years the oyster is left .
70 itself on the floor of the ocean. i
Then "amas." or diving girls, plunge .
10 the bottom and bring them Up. /
Girls. it appears. make better divers !
than men. They are attached by a /
small rope TO floating tub into
which they put the oysters as they /
are brought III from the bottom.
100000 Planted Yearly
All that now remains Is to open |
the oysters and cut the pearls from !
their bodies. back in another labo- (
rstorv where the pearls are graded. /
A comparatively small number Of /
the pearls are perfect, but when /
it is realized that the Mikimoto /
pearl farms are eight in number and /
cover q total of more than 10000
acres. and that 5000, 900 oysters are /
planted each year the actual guam
titv Of perfect pearls produced is |
found to be astounding.
Some Of the oysters produce no
pearls at all. but absorb the bead
into their systems. Others produce
discolored spheres resembling q !
pebble. Out of some 200 which I
saw opened. 70 per cent, I should
say. produced pearls VARYING in size
from, RR shot to 2 large buckSlot !