x] PEARLS AND SCIENCE 127 



harvest of many millions a year from sea fisheries, 

 there is practically only one university where definite 

 oceanographical and fishery courses are held. If they 

 were asked for, they could easily be arranged, but 

 under the present conditions there have been few 

 posts for scientists trained along* these lines and the 

 demand for the training has in consequence been 

 small. 



Again, the number of students who take biology 

 as a subject is rather small, because, as a rule, zoo- 

 logical courses are attended by students who hope to 

 become teachers in various kinds of institutions, or 

 to take museum posts. Since, owing to mistaken 

 notions, or false modesty, zoology does not occupy 

 the place that it should, in our school curricula, edu- 

 cational institutions do not require many teachers 

 with a knowledge of this subject. The fact remains 

 that considering the income from successful pearl 

 fisheries, there has been really little demand for 

 scientific interference, and there have been very few 

 individuals capable of doing such work without re- 

 quiring special training. 



It is impossible to say when man first endeavoured 

 to stimulate the pearl-producing molluscs to form 

 pearls or to cover with nacre objects inserted inside 

 them. It is attributed by the Chinese to a native of 

 Hou-Tcheou-Fou who lived in the 13th century. 



The rearing or protection of the pearl molluscs 



