REMABKS ON DR. PEABSOn'S REVIEW. 133 



of its reaching the Tuticoria banks are remote, especially 

 since the route which such spat would have to take is a very 

 long one. In all probability they would develop a shell, and 

 sink long before they reached the Tuticorin beds. 



Remarks. 



The inspections of 1908, 1909, 1910, and part of that 

 conducted during 1911 represent the operations over which 

 I had charge. During the whole of this period the banks were 

 barren. The role of critic is proverbially an easy one. It is 

 not unhkely that many of the problems connected with the 

 pearl banks (which ought to have been settled long ago) will 

 still await solution a couple of decades hence. 



Dr. Pearson clearly recognizes the nature of the work ahead. 

 It is repeated!}^ stated that certam problems we — and others — 

 have attempted to elucidate will require re-investigation. 

 There are few scientific problems to which this remark does 

 not apply. Our continued interest m the Ceylon pearl 

 fisheries leads us to hope that the progress during the next four 

 years will be greater than we fouiid it possible to achieve in 

 the same period. If we have succeeded in furthermg the 

 elucidation of the problems involved, in removing some from 

 the realm of mere speculation, and in uaitiating lines of work 

 and research, the development and expansion of which will at 

 some future time result in a solution of some of the present 

 difficulties. Our work will not have been wholly in vain. 



In conclusion, I would call attention to the following extra- 

 ordinary statement on page 198 of the last issue of Spolia, 

 where, in Captain Legge's Paper, it is stated that : " True 



pearls are found in the intestines of the oyster, and, 



when they reach such a size as to cause great discomfort to 

 the oyster, the oyster either dies, or, as I have observed, 

 forces the pearl towards the opening between its valves." 



Another surprising statement is found in the same article 

 on page 204 of the same issue, where we are informed that 

 "it is not true, as has been stated, that our blank years 

 are due to over -fishing." Finally, the quotation ascribed to 

 Captain Kerkham on the same page of the same issue is from 

 my own pen, and will be found on page iv. of Part VI., Ceylon 

 Marine Biological Reports. 



