454 Captain Srevarr on the Pearl Fisheries of the Island of Ceylon. 
placed on an island thus situated in the sea, and which has since disappeared. 
I am however inclined to believe the ridge is rising coral and sand. 
The best pearls are generally found in the most fleshy part of the oyster, 
near the hinge of the shell, but they are also found in all parts of the fish, 
and adhering to the shells. I have known sixty-seven pearls of various 
sizes found in one oyster. It is by no means certain that every oyster con- 
tains pearls, and they are seldom found in those oysters which would be 
selected as the finest for eating: this favours the opinion that pearls are 
produced by disease in the fish, and therefore pearl-oysters are seldom eaten, 
being considered unwholesome. If a pearl be cut in two pieces, it will be 
seen that it is formed of separate coats or layers similar to an onion, and 
is no doubt composed of the same matter as the shell. 
Persons who may have been in the habit of considering a pearl-oyster as 
a treasure, will be astonished to learn that a bushel of them can be pur- 
chased at Arippo during a fishery, for a less sum than a bushel of common 
oysters at Feversham or Colchester. What therefore could have been the 
idea of those who induced the pearl-fishery company to send out diving- 
bells to fish with ? 
Before the fibres of the beards break, and the oysters separate, they are 
in immense heaps and clusters; a diver, describing how thick they laid on 
the bank, placed his hand to his chin; but a more intelligent diver esti- 
mated the depth of the beds of oysters seldom to exceed eighteen inches, 
and explained that large rocks at the bottom, when covered with oysters, 
may be mistaken for heaps of oysters. 
Pearl-oysters are said to arrive at perfection in seven years; and after 
attaining this age, they soon die. I have heard of an attempt being made 
to remove pearl-oysters, as common oysters are removed in Europe, to 
richer and more secure ground, but without success. I once attempted to 
convey some alive from Arippo to Colombo by sea, having the water fre- 
quently changed, but on the second day they were all dead. 
The boats used at pearl-fisheries measure from eight to fifteen tons, and 
are without decks. The head and stern are nearly alike, the latter having 
a slight curve, and the stern-post being generally straight: both have con- 
siderable rake, but the stern has most; a boat that will measure forty feet 
over all, will not exceed twenty-eight feet in length at the bottom. They 
have no keel ; the bottom is round, and the breadth of the boat increases 
to the top of the gunwales. They are rigged with one long rude mast, and 
