VI] A CEYLON PEARL FISHERY 79 



connoisseurs. A metal colander or simple scale 

 enables them to know to the fraction of a grain the 

 weight of a pearl, and experience and the trader's 

 instinct tell them everything further that may pos- 

 sibly be known of a gem. 



When fishing is at its height, the scene on the 

 banks is one of extreme animation. Each craft is a 

 floating hive of competitive noise and activity. All 

 around are disappearing and reappearing seal-like 

 heads. By noon most of the divers are tired out 

 and, if it has been a successful day, the boats are 

 fairly loaded up. A gun is fired from the Master 

 Attendant's ship, and this gives the signal for pulling 

 up the anchors, hoisting the sails and beginning the 

 run home. The men, other than the tired-out divers, 

 occupy tliemselves nominally in picking over their 

 oysters, throwing away stones, shells, and other 

 useless things, and in preparing the loads for easy 

 transport from the boats to the shore. But, as a 

 matter of fact, it is well known that this opportunity 

 is seized to " pick " the oysters in another sense. 

 Almost invariably the finest pearls occur just inside 

 the edge of the shells, and may fall out at any 

 moment. Xo doubt many of these round and best 

 coloured pearls are picked out during the run home 

 and concealed about the persons of the boats' crew. 

 This is one reason why the Government does not get 

 its fair share of the pearls. 



