t6 



off the branches of coral while the tufts collect them ; it is operated 

 by allowing the boat to drift with the current over the bank, and a 

 good deal of skill is necessarily required. The coral called Momoiro- 

 sango {Gorallium elatius) is the most valuable and possesses a variety 

 of delicate colours, while the next valuable (Akasango, Gorallium 

 japonicum) is very seldom anything but red. The exhibits at the 

 Milan exhibition were of great beauty and value whether as specimens 

 in the natural state of the most delicate gradations of colour from 

 ivory to pink, or in worked up ornaments. 



163. Pearls. — These vvill be mentioned s.v. '' Pisciculture ". 



164 Pearl shell. — This article is not only largely in use in Japan, 

 e.g., in inlaying lacquer and many other forms of ornamentation and 

 industry, but is exported in vast quantities to China and to European 

 countries. The chief shells are the pearl oyster (Avicula margariti- 

 fera), sea-ear (Ilaliotis gigantea, iris, and sjolendens), Yako-gai (Turbo 

 obearius or marmoratus), and Takase-gai (Troelius niloticus). The 

 pearl oyster shell is too well known to need any description. The 

 Haliotis is a magnificent shell and is annually exported to the weight 

 of about a million lb. valued at upwards of Us. 1,50,000, of which a 

 third goes to England. But Japan is not content with exporting the 

 shell in its natural state for others to work up, but has developed in 

 the last few years a large pearl button and stud industry in which the 

 above shells, chiefly pearl oyster and Haliotis, are used for the manufac- 

 ture, from the small shirt button to the large iridescent button an inch 

 in diameter ; the total weight of shells was said in 1904 to approach 4 

 million lb. At the Milan Exhibition there was a large show both of 

 the shells and buttons, and the annual produce of buttons alone was 

 valued at above Rs. 2,25,000 ; the manufactured articles are exported 

 to the chief centres of Europe and America, as well as to India and 

 other eastern countries. The industry is of the simplest character and 

 is one of those requiring the minimum of technical knowledge and skill 

 and the smallest capital ; shells, a few crown drills, saws, and polishing 

 apparatus, a little care and skill in cutting the shells to prevent splitting 

 and in the drilling and polishing, are almost all that is needed. Not 

 only buttons and studs (the latter cut from the thicker parts of the shell 

 as cylinders which, are then shaped) but slips for fans, knife handles, 

 etc., are also largely cut, while much is used in inlaid work.* 



Many shells, even the humble cowrie, lend themselves to a species 

 of cameo work by cutting down through the outer shell to the inner 

 which is often of very delicate hues and colours. 



165. The following prices of manufactured goods may be useful 

 as an indication of possible trade : they are mostly those quoted in 



* On the Australian coasts and in the Pacific generally, the Haliotis, like some other 

 univalves, produces very good vearls in considerable numbers. Whether this is so in 

 Japaii I omitted to ascertain. 



