He has had thirty years of experience as a pearl diver, was sympathetic with the purposes 

 of the expedition, and very rapidly grasped the significance of aiiantitative data needed 

 for r^akin- a census of the pearl-oyster popiilation. The time he spent at each station, 

 sloirly walking under v/ater and collecting oysters, was carefully recorded. The diver was 

 instructed to take all -nearl oysters, large, small, and dead ones, regardless of their com- 

 "erclal value. Furthennore, he vras given an empty Jar to fill with 'bottom vjater and was 

 asked to "brinf; any other animals and plants he could find. The diving stations were located 

 in the areas which formerly ahounded in pearl oysters. All diving was done during low tide. 

 The exact area covered hy the diver at each station could not he ascertained, 13608X136 the- 

 rate of the diver's progress on the "bottom depends on many circumstances — such as depth 

 of the v.'ater, its temperature and transparency, character of the hottom, and currents. In 

 many places strong currents interfered v/ith diving. 



The diver v/orked from his own email "boat, equipped with hand pump, and propelled 

 "by oars. The crev; consisted of his assistant, and four sailors. The diving hoat operated 

 within a radius of one or tvro miles from my ship, which at this time was making ohserva.- 

 tlons along the shore. Material brought lay the diver was deposited In palls and "baskets 

 which were "brought a"board for examination and preservation. 



In the course of the investigation, the CHUCUTlA made 30 stations. The sea bottom 

 was explored "by the diver at 21 different stations. At 9 stations diving was impossi"ble, 

 and o"bservations consisted of taking plankton samples and dredging. Live pearl oysters 

 v/ere found at 11 stations, while at 10 other stations only dead shells were encountered. 

 The greatest nun"ber of live pearl oysters taken at one station was 15 (Ta"ble U) . This 

 nuia"ber v/as gathered dioring two hours of diving at 2.5 fathoms (Station 6 at Isla de Mlnat 

 Peprl Islands). The largest num"ber of dead shells during 6 hours of diving was found at 

 Station 13 at Coiha Island, at the depth of 5 fathoms. 



The results of all diving efforts are summarized in Ta"ble 5i which clearly shows 

 that the pearl-oyster population In Panamanian waters has "been reduced to such a low level 

 that It has "become almost extinct. 



Ta"ble 5 Total nu-nher of live an d dead oysters collected in Gulf of 



Panama and Gulf of Chirloul. 



The average yield computed from the records of the survey was only one live 

 oyster per two hours of diving. If one considers the total number of shells takeni the 

 yield is three oysters per each hour of diving. Particularly discouraging was the 



36 



