324 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COJEMISSION. 



(2) " Aiiatliorie," that is, pearls which have a slight defect iu either 

 of these respects. 



(3) " Masengoe," pearls which have defects in both these respects. 



(4) '^Kalippo," pearls which are flat, and have other great defects. 



(5) " Korowel," faulty pearls, especially double pearls. 



(6) "Peesal," misshaped pearls. 



(7) ''Codwee," misshaped pearls of tolerably fine form. 



(8) " Mandongoe," split pearls. 



(9) " Kural," very small misshai)ed pearls. 



(10) "Thool," seed-pearls. 



In sorting the pearls they are first passed through a row of baskets, 

 10 or 12 in number. The eighth basket in the row has 20 holes, and 

 the pearls which do not pass through these are said to have the "twen- 

 tieth measure." The following baskets have 30, 50, 80, 100, 200, 400, 

 600, 1,000 holes, &c., and each basket has its special name. After the 

 pearls have been sorted in this manner, they are weighed, and their 

 value is noted. 



China has pearl fisheries near Pakhoi. The beds are divided into 

 four districts which lie between the south coast of the peninsula of 

 Pakhoi, the island of Weichow, and the peninsula of Leichow. In 1875 

 these fisheries yielded pearls to the value of about 162,000 crowns 

 [843,416]. Cochin China carries on an extensive trade in mother-of- 

 pearl, most of which comes from the Bay of Tirwar. On the north coast 

 of Japan considerable quantities of Haliotis gigantea are caught, which 

 is highly prized by both the Japanese and Chinese. 



The Philippine Islands produce large quantities of mother-of-pearl. 

 In 1877, 155 tons were exported ; iu 1878, 152 tons, valued at 307,314 

 crowns [$82,360.15]; in 1879 the yield amounted to 288,810 crowns 

 [$77,401.08]. The entire region from the island of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu 

 to Baselan is one continuous bed of pearl-oysters. Here the Malays and 

 (Jhinese fish in common. The Sulu fisheries, near Tawi-Tawi, are, ac- 

 cording to the statement of an Englishman, Mr. Moore, the largest and 

 most ijroductive of all the pearl fisheries in the East Asiatic seas. The 

 l>earls which are caught here have always been famous, and the mother- 

 of-pearl is distinguished by its 3'ellow luster, which makes it suitable for 

 many purposes. Labuau is the principal market for the products of Sulu- 

 In 1868 the value of these pearl fisheries was 207,972 crowns [$55, 736.50] : 

 in 1870 it fell to 102,348 crowns [$27,429.26]; and up to 1878 it fell still 

 more. Macassar is the principal market for the natives from Bayos. 

 In the Kau Bay there are found pearl beds belonging to the Sultan of 

 Ternate. Pearls and mother-of-i)earl are found near the island of Aru, 

 and are brought to market at Debbo. The principal place where these 

 fisheries are carried on, however, is Blakong Tanah, opposite the island 

 of New Guinea; and these are really the most important fisheries in 

 the entire archipelago. The yield in 1860 amounted to 133,000 crowns 

 [$35,644 j. The island of Timor has pearl beds, but the yield is small. 



