4SC THE PEARL FISHERIES OF CEYLON. 



(wlio unfortunately died before liis Avork was completed) in 1857 

 to 1859 and that of Mr. Iloldswortli in 18G5 to 18(59, have been 

 undertaken without niiicli jjractical result so far. 



In September, 1901, JNlr. Chamberlain asked me to examine the 

 records and report to him on the matter, and in the following spring 

 I was invited by the Government to go to Ceylon Avith a scientific 

 assistant and undertake any investigation into the condition of the 

 banks that might be considered necessary. I arrived at Colombo in 

 January, 1902, and, as soon as a steamer could be obtained, proceeded 

 to the pearl banks. In April it Avas necessary to return to my uni- 

 versity duties in LiA^ei'pool, but I Avas fortunate in haA^ing taken out 

 Avith me as my assistant JNIr. James Hornell, Avho Avas to remain in 

 Ceylon for at least a year longer in order to carry out the observa- 

 tions and experiments Ave had arranged and comj^lete our Avork. 

 'Jliis programme has been carried out, and Mr. Hornell has kept me 

 sup})lied Avith Aveeklj^ reports and Avith specimens requiring detailed 

 examination. 



The Ss. Lady ILmelocJ,' Avas placed by the Ceylon goA^ernment 

 at my disposal for the Avork of examining into the biological condi- 

 tions suri'ounding the pearl oyster l)anks, and this enabled me on 

 tAVO successive cruises of three or four AAceks each to examine all the 

 principal banks and run lines of dredging and ti'aAvling and othei" 

 obsei'vations across, around, and betAveen them, in order to ascertain 

 the conditions that determine an oyster bed. ToAvard the end of my 

 stay I took part in the annual inspection of the pearl lianks, by 

 means of diA^ers, along Avith the retiring inspector, Capt. J. Donnan, 

 C. M. G., and his successor Captain TiCgge. Dnring that jieiMod Ave 

 liA^ed and Avoi-ked on the uatiA^e bark h'n n fiasarneeporti irce and had 

 daily opportunity of studying the methods of the native diA'ers and 

 the results they obtaintMl. 



It is evident that there are tAvo distinct questions that may be 

 raised — the first as to the abundance of the adult " oysters " and 

 the second as to (he numbei* of pearls iu the oysters, and it was the 

 first of these rathei- than the frequency of the pearls that seemed 

 to call for investigation, since the complaint has not been as to the 

 number of p(>arls per adult oyster, but as to the complete disap[)ear- 

 ance of the shellfish. I Avas iiulebted to (^aptain Donnan for much 

 kind help during the inspection, Avhen he took i)ains to let me see as 

 thoroughly and satisfactoi"ily as ])ossible the A'arious I)anks. the 

 different kinds and ages of oysters, and the conditions under Avhich 

 these and their enemies exist. I wish also to rtM'ord my entire satis- 

 faction witli tlie work done by ^\y. llornclh both while I Avas with 

 him and also since. It Avould have been (piite impossible for me to 



