PEARL FISHING AXD ' BEACHCOMBERS: 251 



with. When that is the case^-however, they are usually of 

 considerable value, being large, well-formed and pure. 



The oysters Avhich produce the greatest number of pearls are 

 thick and stunted, having a scabby and deformed appearance. 

 There is a colour about their cable (or attachment whereby 

 they hold on to the rock) unmistakable to an experienced 

 fisher; so much so, that such a man could with safety lay a wager 

 to pick out from a boat-load of unopened oysters at least 75 per 

 cent, of those which contained pearls, upon most cursory ex- 

 amination. There can be no doubt whatever that the produc- 

 tion of pearls is in most cases the result of some disease or 

 inconvenience suffered by the fish. Instances are occasionally 

 met with in which oysters in an apparent state of perfect health 

 and large growth contain pearls, but then usually only one, and 

 that large, round, and beautiful. On the other hand, in some 

 distorted and shabby-looking shells, one will find, at times, 

 twenty or more pearls (there have been instances of a hundred), 

 small, shapeless, and of no value. Some have supposed that 

 the irritation caused by the presence of parasites in the shape 

 of small red crabs and lobsters which infest the pearl-oyster, 

 and give it very much annoyance, are the cause of the existence 

 of pearls. But I do not think such is the case, as these 

 creatures are most numerous in large, clean, and healthy shells, 

 where there are no pearls. 



Pearls of great value are not often found in the Pacific 

 lagoons, although in some localities they are to be obtained in 

 sufficient quantities to pay for the expenses of getting up the 

 shell. A very great number of the most valuable pearls in the 

 Pacific fisheries have been and still are lost on account of the 

 fishers allowing their diving women to open the shells, which 

 they do between their knees, and in the act the loose pearls 

 immediately slip out with the water and slime which the shell 



