THE GREAT PEARL FISHERY OF 1905. [xv] 



from the central portion of the South Cheval to permit of the commencement of 

 operations for the establishment there by transplantation of a bed of young ones. 

 Accordingly, I instructed Captain Jelstrup to dredge for young oysters aged about 

 six to seven months, which I knew to be in profusion in the South Modragam Paar, 

 to convey them to the South Cheval and there to throw them overboard within the 

 limits which I defined by a series of mark buoys. 



" 91. The method adopted was to bag all the young oysters taken, to keep them 

 in a cool place covered with wet sacks, and to steam twice a day, noon and evening, 

 to the South Cheval, throwing them out as the vessel manoeuvred between the flags. 

 The young oysters stood the treatment well ; there was practically no mortality, as I 

 ascertained by sending divers down from time to time to ascertain the condition of 

 these young, and to bring me samples. 



" 92. The total quantity transplanted was upward of ten millions. I propose to 

 concentrate attention upon this bed during the next season, in order to give the 

 experiment fair treatment. I hope to transplant thereto in November next an 

 additional 10 to 15 millions ; after that we may hope that enough work shall have 

 been accomplished to ensure a small fishery two years later a result that would be 

 due entirely to cultural methods, and not to the fortuitous interaction of currents and 

 other natural influences. 



" 93. During the course of the dredging, a great amount of good was done by 

 the capture and destruction of large numbers of starfishes and carnivorous gastropod 

 molluscs, noted enemies of the pearl oyster. Frequently between 200 and 300 

 starfishes were taken and destroyed in one day. By my instructions these were 

 retained on board for twenty-four hours in order to insure that life should of a 

 certainty be extinct, when they were returned to the sea." 



In regard to the bed of young transplanted oysters, Mr. Hornell adds : 



" 109. Prior to leaving the banks, I directed the Government divers to examine the 

 area in question. They reported young oysters apparently numerous, the individuals 

 they brought up were in good health, exhibiting no ill-effects consequent on the 

 transplanting operation. Some had attached to fragments of cultch rubble laid out 

 during the course of the fishery. 



" 110. (b) Thinning out. This operation went on concurrently with transplantation, 

 the abundance of young oysters on the South Modragam being so inordinate as 

 to constitute, through overcrowding, a grave danger to their own continued prosperity. 

 Transplantation, by entailing a reduction in the number's upon the South Modragam, 

 should re-act favourably, and if the density of population be found still too great 

 when next the bed is inspected, further transplantation should be resorted to. So 

 great is the present profusion, that the numbers taken in the dredges upon the last 

 day appeared as great as on the day transplantation was begun, and indicated no 

 appreciable diminution in the fertility of the bed. 



"111. (c) Cultching. During the fishery a quantity of rubble obtained from the 



