Plgare 3. — AccTinralation of pearl oyster shells at the place 

 where oysters are shucked on the Isla Carilje. 



consTonption is hroii^t here hy "barge from the mainland. The effect of lack of water is 

 particularly noticeahle on the few domestic animals, - dogs, cats, and goats, which show 

 ohrious symptoms of severe dehydration. The Venezuelan Government is studying the possi- 

 bility of laying a pipe across the ocean floor to supply the island with fresh v/ater from 

 the mainland. It is evident that a successful solution of water supply prohlen would he of 

 enormous "benefit to the progress of this communityt and should open an era of prosperity to 

 this small island. 



Pearl oysters are edible and local fishermen use them in preparing their 

 simple meals. Althou^ it lacks the flavor and soft consistency of the edible oysters, the 

 meat of a pearl oyster is quite palatable, and v/hen cooked in boiled water has a pleasant 

 taste. A vast supply of this wholesome food, v;hich is now being wasted, can be utilized 

 by establishing a processing plant on one of the Islands, or in Porlamar. It is also sT:ig- 

 gested that a chemical study be made of pearl oyster meat as a possible source of vitamins 

 that may be extracted from it. 



5. Division of the proceeds 



With the exception of naked divers, v/ho usually v/ork independently and make 

 personal arrangements with their helpers, fishermen engaged in the pearl fishery operate on 

 shares. A rather complex method of dividing the proceeds of the catch is governed by local 

 tradition and customs. Tor a diving boat, the follov;ing scheme is customarily used: 50 

 percent of the money realized from the sale of pearls goes to the "enpresario," i.e., the 

 person who ovms or outfits the boat? of this amount, the empresario pays one-half of the 

 license fee and gives one-third of the balance to the diver. The rest is his. The remain^ 

 ing 50 percent is divided among the crew, in the follov/ing manner! first, the cost of food 

 and half of the license fee are deducted; then the balmce is divided into 1^ shares, of 

 v/hich 6 shares are paid to the diver, and 8 shares are eo_ually divided among the crew. The 

 latter distribution may be slightly modified by special agreements. 



12 



