176 First Report on Economic Zoology. 



ago, Jiu experimental inquiry into the ]iearl fisheries of Ceylon, which was 

 initiated l)y (iovernment, ended in failure and disappointment, owing to 

 the fact that the matter was entrusted to a gentleman who, though 

 acquainted with sea-fishing as a sportsman, had no scientific knowledge 

 or training. 



During the past thirty-five years our knowledge of the treatment of 

 oysters and similar questions has vastly increased. 



If a naturalist who is really worthy of trust and conversant Avitli the 

 snbject is sent to Ceylon to study the pearl hanks, it is, in my opinion, 

 highly probable that the expenditure involved will l^e amply repaid l)y the 

 results. Such a man could not be obtained for a less payment than one 

 thousand pounds a year, exclusive of all expenses ; and it would be 

 necessary to employ him for three years at least. 



I am, etc., 



(Signed) E. Ray Lankester. 



CoLONiAri Office, 



Downing Street, 



23rrf August, 1900. 



To The Director, British Museum (Nat. Hist.). 



Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge 

 the receipt of your letter of the l;-»th instant and to thank you for your 

 advice on the subject of the Pearl Fisheries of Ceylon. 



2. Mr. Chamberlain will communicate with Dr. Herdman and subse- 

 quently with the Royal Society, as you suggest. 



3. I am to ask that you will be so good as to retiu'n the Reports 

 enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 7th instant, as there 

 are no other copies of these prints available. The Governor of Ceylon 

 has been asked to send further copies, which will be forwarded to you as 

 soon as they are received. 



I am, etc., 



(Signed) C. P. Lucas. 



Abstract of Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 



By Sir W. C. Twynam, K.C.M.G. (Colombo, 189'.)). 



In this long report of sixty-six pages, Sir W. C. Twynam first points 

 out the injurious nature of currents and foul water to the pearl oyster. 



For some years the real spat of the pearl oyster does not seem to have 

 been known, the spat of other Avicuhe being taken for young pearl 

 oysters. 



The enemies of the oyster are given, amongst them the following : 

 shellfish, the chank of commerce {Turbinella pi/non), the horse and 

 elephant chanks {PyrvJa carnaria and Murex regius). 



A small mussel {Modiola) known as the Suran spreads a kind of blanket 

 over the oysters and suffocates them ; this is, however, rare in the Ceylon, 



