PEARL FISHERIES. 73 



at the Peregrine passage, but it has remained so until the 

 present time, and the materials are scattered in all 

 directions. Being on the route to the Capital, it would be 

 very important to have it built, this being a dangerous 

 passage tor travellers. 



San Marcos river, which is only 21 miles long, springs 

 from the mountain of Santa Elena and empties itself into the 

 Pacific. Coyuca River springs from the Sierra and falls into 

 the Pacific. There are three lakes in the district, that of 

 Naguala, San Marcos and Coyuca. Fish are abundant, and 

 a large quantity are caught and sent in the interior. 



The only port of importance is Acapulco. The pearl 

 fisheries, which scarcely exist now, were at a time one of the 

 principal industries of the district. They are of good water, 

 and many splendid specimens have been gathered at different 

 times. Some years later, south of Acapulco, between that 

 port and Tehuantepec, I have seen many heaps of shells, 

 which proves that pearl fisheries of consequence exist all 

 along the Pacific Coast. I don t know if they are there still, 

 but if such is the case, it would be worth sending a vessel 

 there and pick them up, these shells having a good market 

 value in Europe. 



The chief market for pearls on the Pacific is Mazatlan, 

 a port north of Acapulco. Large quantities are annually 

 gathered in the coasts surrounding that port, but the bulk of 

 them are small and called Mostacilla, or mustard seed. The 

 large and perfect round ones are scarce and valuable, even 

 there. 



The shell found on the Pacific Coasts which produces 

 pearls appear to me to be a species of Oyster, Ostrea, and 

 not a Meleagrina, or Avicula, as in the Indian Seas. 



It is said that all shells containing pearls are easy of 

 detection, having external excrescences corresponding to the 

 internal cavities containing the pearls. Smooth and perfect 

 shells do not contain pearls according to the fishermen. 



If this is true, and I am of that opinion, much time would 

 be spared in the gathering of them, as also a great many 

 could be returned to their element for future use, as explained 

 under. 



It is a well-known fact that pearls are the product of a 

 secretion of the animal, which is produced by irritation. 

 When the shell opens its valves, if by accident sand or such 

 like finds its entrance inside, the animal is so much irritated 

 by it, that it begins to secrete mother of pearl and covers the 



