356 THE OCEAN WOULD. 



Ceylon fisheries are under Government inspection, and each year, 

 before the fisheries commence, an official inspection of the coast takes 

 place. Sometimes the fishing is undertaken on account of the State, 

 at other times it is let to parties of speculators. In 1804 the pearl 

 fishery was granted to a capitalist for 120,000 ; but, to avoid im- 

 poverishing all the beds at once, the same part of the gulf is not 

 fished every year. 



The great fishery for mother-of-pearl Pintadines (Meleagrina mar- 

 garitifera) takes place in the Gulf of Manaar, a large bay to the 

 north-east of the island; it commences in the month of February or 

 March, and continues thirty days, taken collectively, and occupies two 

 hundred and fifty boats, which come from different parts of the coast ; 

 they reach the ground at daybreak, the time being indicated by a 

 signal gun. Each boat's crew consists of twenty hands, and a negro. 

 The rowers are ten in number. The divers divide themselves into 

 two groups of five men each, who labour and rest alternately ; they 

 descend from forty to fifty feet, seventy being the very utmost they 

 can accomplish, and eighty seconds the longest period the best divers 

 can remain under water, the ordinary period being only thirty seconds. 

 In order to accelerate their descent, a large stone is attached to a 

 rope. According to travellers the oars are used to rig out a stage, 

 across which planks are laid over both sides of the boat; to this 

 stage the diving-stone is suspended. This stone is in the form of a 

 pyramid, weighing about half-a-hundred weight ; the cord which sus- 

 tains it sometimes carries in its lower parts a sort of stirrup to receive 

 the foot of the diver. At the moment of his descent he places his 

 right foot in this stirrup, or, where there is no such provision, he 

 rests it on the stone with the cord between his toes. In his left foot 

 he holds the net which is to receive the bivalves ; then, seizing with 

 his right hand a signal-cord conveniently arranged for his purpose, 

 and pressing his nostrils with the left hand, he dives, holding himself 

 vertically, and balancing himself over his foot. 



Each diver is naked, except the band of calico which surrounds the 

 loins. Having reached the bottom, he withdraws his foot from the 

 stone, which ascends immediately to the stage. The diver throws 

 himself on his face, and begins to gather all the pintadines within his 

 reach, placing them in his net. When he wishes to ascend he pulls 

 the signal cord, and is drawn up with all possible expedition. 



