﻿THE TEARL FISHERY. 



37 







The Pearl Fishery. 



Pearls are found in various parts of the world, and some of con- 

 siderable value have been taken from the Br'tish waters ; but the 

 East Indian pearls are those which are chiefly sought in commerce. 

 A handsome necklace of pearls, smaller than peas, is worth from 

 eight to fifteen hundred dollars, whilst one of beads, not larger than 

 pepper-corns, may not be worth more than one hundred dollars. 

 The king of Persia has a pearl valued at five hundred thousand dol- 

 lars ! Pearls from the seas of Ceylon are most prized in England. 



There are two seasons of pearl-fishing in the East Indies the first 

 in March and April, the second in August and September. In the 

 opening of the season there appear sometimes two hundred and fifty 

 barks on the water, containing one or two divers each. As soon as 

 the boats arrive at the place where the fish lie, each diver ties a 

 large stone under him, to serve as ballast below; also another weight 

 is attached to one foot, whereby he is soon sunk to the bottom of 

 the sea. Each diver also carries down with him a large net, tied to 

 his neck by a long cord, one end of which is retained in the boat. 

 Thus the poor creature plunges sometimes to a depth of sixty feet. 

 As he has no time to lose, he has no sooner gained the bottom than 

 he begins to run from side to side, sometimes on the sharp points of 

 the rocks, tearing ofT the oysters he meets with, and cramming 

 them into his bag. 



