[ v ] 



PREFACE. 



Part I. of this work was issued in November, 1903, and contained the following- 

 sections : 



(a) In the Pearl Oyster Report proper : (1) the Introduction ; (2) the Narrative ; 



(3) the Description of the Pearl Banks ; (4) Observations on the Sea ; and 

 (5) Observations and Experiments on the Life-History and Habits of the 

 Pearl Oyster ; 



(b) In the series of Supplementary Reports : L, the Sea-bottoms ; II, the Marine 



Algse; III, the Gephyrea; IV., the Polyplacophora ; V., the Holothurioidra ; 

 VI., the Cephalochorda ; and VII., the Copepoda. 



Along with that volume, I submitted to the Government of Ceylon a type-written 

 section* dealing with practical recommendations as to the conduct of the. inspections 

 and fisheries, and as to the best means of conserving and exploiting the pearl banks. 

 These recommendations, when revised and added to if necessary, as the result of 

 further observation and experiments, will be given as the final section of the last 

 volume of this Report. 



In January, 1904, Mr. James Hornell was appointed Marine Biologist to the 

 Ceylon Government, and soon after the further duties of Inspector of the Pearl Banks 

 were added to his office. Facilities have now been given to him for carrying out the 

 work, both experimental and executive, recommended in this Report, and he is at the 

 present time engaged in testing the effects, under different conditions, of lifting- 

 oysters (both young and old) in bulk, by means of dredges. The transplantation of 

 young oysters will also engage his attention, and the first results of his labours will 

 probably be available for use before this Report is concluded. 



In the present Part II., after a discussion of the past history of the principal 

 "paars," Mr. Hornell and I give our account of the Anatomy of the Pearl Oyster, 

 and that is followed by a notable section on the Parasites, contributed by Mr. Shipley 

 and Mr. Hornell. 



The Entozoa of the Pearl Oyster are of practical importance from two points of 

 view: (l) because of their effect as parasites when present in sufficient numbers to 







* This has since been printed by the Government of Ceylon as a 'Sessional Paper,' Colombo, 1904. 



