150 PROCEEDiyrjS of the A.IT/O-AML museum. vol. r!7. 



PTERIA PERUVIANA Reeve. 

 Plate 28, fig. 1. 



Avicula peruviana Reeve, Conchologia Iconica, vol. 10, Aricula, 1857, pi. 14, 9 

 fig. 53. 

 Concha perla viuda, i^urcliased in Paita. 



Distribution. — Gulf of California to Peru. 



Shell large, inequivalve, very inequilateral, thin, purple or reddish 

 with radiating yellowish rays externally, internally pearly with a 

 dull margin, hinge line produced into auricles or "wings," the pos- 

 terior usually longer and more broad, the anterior smaller and sepa- 

 rated from the body of the valve by a conspicuous sinus in the flat 

 valve, surface smooth or slightly laminated, the body of the shell 

 plump, the extremities compressed. Byssiferous and potentially 

 migratory. 



This is the species originally abundant on this coast which supplied 

 the pearl fisheries of Paita and Sechura bays, and at present the 

 pearl industry of the Gulf of California. For the most part these 

 fisheries have been destroyed by overfishing, and the mollusks no 

 longer occur in sufficient profusion to afi'ord a commerce of real 

 importance. 



THE PEARL FISHERY IN PERU IN MODERN TIMES. 



It seems that on the finding of pearls two companies were formed, one of which 

 held a concession from the Government to take pearls from Tallara on the north to 

 the Rio Piura on the south, while the latter fished from this river south to the Punta 

 Aguja. The southern company employed divers in Panama, and made a promising 

 start. Something like 200 pearls were taken at the outset, yielding about $2,000 and 

 repaying expenses. After this practically nothing was obtained. They then began 

 exploring with dredges, the two companies finally working in conjunction in this inves- 

 tigation. They worked in water of from 2 to 12 fathoms and up to a distance of 7 

 miles from the shore, but failed to locate any bank of ])earl oysters. It is believed, 

 however, that there is somewhere in the bay a considerable bank of these shellfish, 

 since when the wind blows stiffly from the north the beach is often strewn with the 

 concha perlas. The conchas so found contain few pearls, and these of little value. 

 The rastras which were used for exploring the bay were much like those used in 

 Callao for concha abanicos, but with sharper teeth. No attempts have been made 

 since 1901. The most valuable pearl was black and small, and worth $400. For 

 most of the above information I am indebted to Sr. Manuel Perez, who was the repre- 

 sentative of the company which held the southern concession. 



Getting such directions as were practicable regarding the location where the conchas 

 were formerly encountered, I made several efforts with rastras to find them, but 

 without success in this direction. Other forms of especial interest were taken, how- 

 ever. Later, at Paita, having obtained a dredge foriherly used for the concha perlas, 

 and a guide who had worked with one of the companies, we made other attempts a 

 little south of Paita, but again with no success beyond the finding of a few dead shells. 

 It is evident from this and from'the repeated failures of the pearl companies that the 

 locating of these banks would be accomplished only by long and thorough survey. 



