THE PEARL FISHERIES OF CEYLON. 4',)3 



ui' hope thai it inay rt'sult not morely in a large revenue from peai'ls," 

 but also in considerable additions to our scientific knowledge of tlie 

 oysters. 



As an incident of our work in Ceylon, it was found necessary to 

 fit up the scientifie man's workshop — a small laboratory on the edge 

 of the sea — with experimental tanks, a circulation of sea water, and 

 facilities for microscopic and other work. For several reasons, as 

 was mentioned above, we chose Galle, at the southern end of Ceylon, 

 and we have every reason to 1)6 satisfied with the choice. With its 

 large bay, its rich fauna, and the sheltered collecting ground of the 

 lagoon within the coral reef it is prol)ably one of the best possible 

 spots for the naturalist's work in eastern tropical seas. 



In the interests of science it is to ))e hoped, then, that the marine 

 lal)oratory at Galle will soon l)e established on a permanent basis, 

 with a suitable equipment. It ought, moreover, to be of sufficient 

 size to accommodate t>Ao or three additional zoologists, such as 

 members of the staff of the museum and of the medical college at 

 Colombo or sciimtific visitors from P^urope. The work of such men 

 Avould help in the investigation of the marine fauna and in the eluci- 

 dation of practical problems, and the laboratory would soon l)ecome 

 a credit and an attraction to the colony. Such an institution at 

 Galle would be known throughout the scientific world, and Avould 

 be visited by nuiny students of science, and it might reasonably be 

 hoped that in time it would perform for the marine biology and the 

 fishing industries of Ceylon very nuich the same important functions 

 as those fulfilled by the celebrated gardens and lal)oratory at Pera- 

 deniya for the botan}' and associated economic problems of the land. 



« It was a most successful fishery. A still larger one, bringing in over a mil- 

 lion rupees to the (Jovcrnnu'ut, was hol<l in liUH. and there are now excellent 

 l)r<jsi)ects for an imi)ortant fishery in the spring of 1U05. — W. A. 11., January, 

 1905. 



