384 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



superior market worth. The fishery has not been prose- 

 cuted with that vigour it might be, in consequence of the 

 fear entertained of sharks, sword-fish, alligators, and other 

 ravenous monsters which infest the shores of the coasts, 

 but which are so comparatively rare about the islands as 

 not to create great alarm among the divers. 



Several attempts have been made within the last quarter 

 of a century, by companies and individuals, to employ 

 diving-bells and apparatus, but in every instance some fault 

 or difficulty has occurred to discourage the efforts. Besides 



FIG. 28. 



Diving for pearl shells at Panama. 



the obstructions caused by the irregularities of the sea 

 bottom to a complete adjustment of the machines, much 

 inconvenience was experienced in moving about from bank 

 to bank, it being necessary on every occasion to unship the 

 derricks and other fixtures, so as to enable the vessel to be 

 sailed from one fishing ground to another. The diving 

 armour met with no favour among the natives, who could 

 not be induced to adopt it. 



The fishery for mother-of-pearl shells has now been 

 carried on upon the California coast in the vicinity of 

 Santa Barbara for some 10 or 12 years past, and is also 



