United States Department of the Interior 



Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary 



Pish and Wildlife Service 



Albert M. Day, Director 



Special Scientific Report - Fisheries 

 Ho. 26 



THE PEARL FISHERY OF VENEZUELA 



Paul S. Galtsoff 

 Fishery Research Biologist 



COMTEHTS 



Page 



Introduction 2 



Brief history of the pearl fishery 2 



Present condition of pearl fishery »•.. ••*............ 7 



1. Location of pearl oyster banks 7 



2. Method of fishing 10 



3« Season of fishing ............ . 10 



U, Shucking of oysters ^... 11 



5. Division of the proceeds ,. 12 



6. Selling of pearls ..... . ........... 13 



7. Market for pearls , 1^ 



8. Economic importance of pearl fishery I7 



Biology fud conservation of pearl oyster I9 



Sugf^ested plan of biological sttidies 20 



Bibliography 23 



