81 



to conceive of a more complete utilization^ morfi japovico^ of land and 

 water especially as the outside waters are also covered with fishing 

 boats. The mere existence of this complete map of the oyster grounds 

 confirms what is said above (paragraph 111) of the thoroughness with 

 which the Japanese authorities have provided not only against disputes 

 but also for the realization of the license dues both on " enclosed " 

 and on other fisheries. 



171. Pearl oysters {Avicula margaritifera). — This culture is 

 believed to be peculiar to Japan and unique in the world ; though 

 apparently practised to some extent before the Restoration, and 

 though fishermen have made co-operative regulations against over- 

 fishing, scientific culture and the artificial stimulation of pearl growth 

 are of very recent growth and are due to the zoological knowledge 

 and practical acumen of Prof. Mitsukuri who, after studying the 

 bionomics of the mollusc which is found in many places in Japan, 

 suggested to a practical man the desirability of cultivating it. 

 Experiments were at once begun and the learned Professor then 

 suggested the possibility not only of cultivating the oyster but of 

 stimulating it to produce pearls. The result has been " beyond expec- 

 tations " and the chief exponent of tlie system (Mr. K. Mikimoto) 

 has about 1,000 acres of water, nicely sheltered, with three to seven 

 fathoms of clear water where millions of pearl oysters are annually 

 grown and regular crops of cultivated pearls are obtained, some of which 

 are naturally, some artificially stimulated into existence. It is also 

 stated in a paper obtained at the Milan Exhibition that the pearl oyster 

 is cultivated over a distance of 29 miles in the Bay of Ago alone, but 

 apparently the stimulated pearl is produced only by Mr. Mikimoto. 



172. As usual there is a breeding ground, viz., shallow areas where 

 spat is found to fall ; these are heavily cultched with stones of several 

 pounds weight ; the spat usually falls in summer, and before winter any 

 stones in very shallow water are removed to at least one fathom of water 

 merely to obviate the effects of cold. In these waters or in the 

 deeper neighbourhood they live for three years, at which time they are 

 taken up, operated on, and replaced at the rate of 8 per square yard of 

 bottom for four years, when they are mature and the pearls are removed. 

 At the recent Milan Exhibition I found from the official report that the 

 annual produce of these pearls on Mr. Mikimoto's farm was as follows : 

 in 1901, 10,405 pounds weight ; in 1902, 11,554 pounds ; and in ly03, 

 16,0^)0 pounds. The bulk of these are used in Japan, but in 1902 the 

 declared export value was Rs. 82,500 without counting the value of 

 those privately purchased by tourists which do not appear in exports ; 

 in Tokyo in 1906 I saw an ornament of culture pearls bought by a 

 visitor for Es. 9,000. 



173. At present the culture pearls resulting not from the natural 

 cultivation of the oyster but from the artificial irritation set up, are 



1/ 



