176 Fii'st Report on Economic Zoology. 



ago, an experimental inquiry into the pearl fisheries of Ceylon, which was 

 initiated by Government, ended in failure and disappointment, owing to 

 the fact that the matter was entrusted to a gentleman who, though 

 acquainted with sea-fishing as a sportsman, had no scientific knowledge 

 or training. 



During the past thirty-five yeai-s our knowledge of the treatment of 

 oysters and similar questions has vastly increased. 



If a naturalist Avho is really worthy of trust and conversant with the 

 subject is sent to Ceylon to study the pearl banks, it is, in ray opinion, 

 highly probaljle that the expenditure involved will be amply repaid by the 

 results. Such a man could not be obtained for a less payment than one 

 thousand pounds a year, exclusive of all expenses ; and it Avould be 

 necessary to employ him for three years at least. 



I am, etc., 



(Signed) E. Ray Lankester. 



CoLOxiAL Office, 



Do\vning Street, 



23rfZ August, 1900. 



To The Directoe, British Museum (Nat. Hist.), 



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

 the receipt of your letter of the l:->th instant and to thank you for youi" 

 advice on the subject of the Pearl Fisheries of Ceylon. 



2, ^Ir. Chamberlain will communicate with Dr. Herdman and subse- 

 quently with the Eoyal Society, as you suggest. 



3, I am to ask that you will be so good as to return the Reports 

 enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 7th instant, as there 

 are no other copies of these prints available. The Governor of Ceylon 

 has been asked to send further copies, which will be forwarded to you as 

 soon as they are received. 



I am, etc., 



(Signed) C. P, Lucas. 



Abstract of Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 



By Sir W. C. Twynam, K.C.M.G. (Colombo, 189D), 



In this long report of sixty-six pages. Sir "W, C. T^vynam first points 

 out the injurious nature of cuiTents and foul water to the pearl oyster. 



For some years the real spat of the pearl oyster does not seem to have 

 been known, the spat of other Avicuhe being taken for young pearl 

 oysters. 



The enemies of the oyster are given, amongst them the following : 

 shellfish, the chank of commerce {Turbinella pyrum), the horse and 

 elephant chanks {Pyrida carnaria and Murex regius). 



A small mussel {Jlodiolf) known as the Suran spreads a kind of blanket 

 over the oysters and suffocates them ; this is, however, rare in the Ceylon 



