368 THE OCEAN WORLD. 



In these latter countries the pearl fishing does not commence till 

 the months of July and August, the sea being at that time calmer than 

 in other months of the year. Arrived on their fishing-ground, the 

 fishermen range their barques at a proper distance from each other, 

 and cast anchor in water from eight to nine fathoms deep. The 

 process is pursued here in a very simple manner. When about to 

 descend the divers pass a cord, the extremity of which communicates 

 with a bell placed in the barque, under the armpits ; they put cotton 

 in their ears, and press the nostrils together with a piece of wood or 

 horn ; they close their mouths hermetically, attach a heavy stone to 

 their feet, and at once sink to the bottom of the sea, where they 

 gather indiscriminately all shells within their reach, which they throw 

 into a bag suspended round their haunches. When they require to 

 breathe they sound the bell, and immediately they are assisted in 

 their ascent. 



On the oyster-banks off the Isle of Bahrein the pearl fishery pro- 

 duces about ^240,000 ; and if we add to this the addition furnished 

 by the other fisheries of the neighbourhood, the sum total yielded by 

 the Arabian coast would probably not fall short of ^350,000. 



In South America similar fisheries exist. Before the Mexican 

 conquest the pearl fisheries were located between Acapulco and the 

 Gulf of Tehuantepec ; subsequently they were established round the 

 Islands of Cubagua, Margarita, and Panama. The results became so 

 full of promise that populous cities were not slow to raise themselves 

 round these several places. 



Under the reign of Charles V., America sent to Spain pearls 

 valued at ^160,000; in the present day they are estimated to be 

 worth ;6o,ooo. In the places mentioned, the divers descend into 

 the sea quite naked ; they remain there from twenty-five to thirty 

 seconds, during which space they can only secure three or four 

 pintadines. They dive in this way a dozen times in succession, 

 which gives an average of between thirty and forty bivalves to each 

 diver. 



The shells are carried on shore, and piled up on mats of Espartero 

 grass. The mollusc dies, and soon becomes decomposed; it requires 

 ten days to be thoroughly disorganised. When in a thoroughly 

 decayed state, they are thrown into reservoirs of sea water, when they 

 are opened, washed, and handed over to the dealers. The valves 

 furnish nacre, and the pearls are found in the soft decayed substance 

 of the mollusc. 



The valves are cleansed,, and piled up in tuns or casks; by taking 



