174 First Report on Economic Zoology. 



The resume is given in Dr. Morris's letter, p. 188. The report has three 

 appendices : — 



(1) The Fisheries of Barbados, where we learn the approximate income 

 is £10,500. 



(2) The Jamaican Fisheries ; an account of the operations in Jamaica 

 of the Caribbean Sea Fisheries Development Syndicate, Limited, which 

 does not appear to have been financially successful. 



(3) A Report on the Sea-egg Industry of Barbados. 



2. CEYLON PEAEL FISHERIES. 



Colonial Office, 



Downing Street, 



1th August, 1900. 



To The Director of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). 



Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to enclose for 

 your consideration copies of a special Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries 

 and of the last report on the inspection of the pearl banks, which have 

 been received from the Governor of that Colony. 



Mr. Chamberlain would be much obliged if you would be good enougli 

 to advise him on the subject generally, but I am to state that he doubts 

 whether the Colonial Government would be well advised to incur any 

 considerable expense in the matter, unless it is considered to be of great 

 scientific interest, as the local conditions seem to be well known for 

 practical purposes. 



The Governor of Ceylon has suggested that the opinions of the Royal 

 Society, British Association, and Zoological Society should be invited as 

 to wliether it is desirable that these fisheries should be inspected by a 

 scientific expert, and also that Dr. Herdman, F.R.S., should be consulted, 

 but no application has yet been made to these Societies or to Dr. Herdman, 

 pending an expression of your opinion. 



I am to add that variovLS prints relating to Pearl Fisheries in Ceylon 

 can be seen in the Library of this Office. 



I am, etc., 



(Signed) C. P. Lucas. 



Beitish Museum (Nat. Hist.), 



Cromwell Road, S.W., 



IWi August, 1900. 



To The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain. 



Sir, — I have read the Special Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries 

 forwarded to me by Mr. Lucas at your request. I am of opinion that the 

 recommendations made by Sir W. Twynam are well based and should, so 

 far as I am able to judge, be carried into eff^ect. 



The questions connected with the proper management and fishing of 

 pearl oyster banks and other similar submarine sources of wealth are 

 of great scientific interest, and should, in my opinion, be continually 

 investigated and dealt with in the interest of the community. Results 



