PEARLS AND PEARL-OYSTERS. 



207 



extensive shallow water coral reefs, composed almost exclusively of the encrusting 

 or frondose expansions of Madrepores, belonging to the genus Turbinaria. This 

 coral group, it has been observed by the writer on various parts of the Coast of 

 Australia, represents the one that is most abundantly developed in extra-tropical 

 waters, it being capable of surviving lower temperatures than any of the more 

 ordinary tropical Madreporidse. Nevertheless, the presence and exceedingly luxuriant 

 growth of this Coral, combined with the circumstance that many shell fish and 

 other organisms, indigenous to the waters in which the larger Pearl-shell grow, 

 inhabited Shark's Bay, encouraged the anticipation that this species also might be 

 artificially induced to become established there. 



The Government approving of the suggested experiment, it was forthwith 

 carried into practice. The chief difficulty that presented itself was the transportation 

 of the living shell from the 

 nor'- west to Shark's Bay. 

 During the writer's cruise of 

 investigation in the Govern- 

 ment schooner " Meda " to 

 the Pearling grounds, some 

 two dozen healthy living 

 pairs of shells were pro- 

 cured from the fleet then 

 working near the Lacepede 

 Islands, and, being kept in 

 tubs of sea water that was 

 constantly changed, were 

 ultimately brought in safety, 

 with only a single loss, to 

 their appointed destination. 

 Here they were placed in 

 frames, similar to those used 

 at Thursday Island and Broome Creek, and lowered into suitable situations on the 

 coral reef near Dirk Hartog Island. Examined at intervals, the shells were found 

 to be progressing favourably and increasing in size. Finally, on the frames being 

 taken up and opened in the writer's presence, in November, 1894, precisely twelve 

 months from the date upon which they were first put down, a number of young 



W. Saville-Kfnt, Photo. 



YOUNG TKOPICAL PEARL-OYSTERS, ATTACHED TO A PORTION OF THE PARENT SHELL, 



GROWN IN SHARK'S BAY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. NATURAL SIZE. p. 208. 



