THE OYSTER. 323 



On the pearl fishery. 



which he descends. He places his foot in a kind 

 of stirrup, and laying hold of the rope with hi$ 

 left hand, with his right he stops his nose to 

 keep in his breath, as in going down he takes in. 

 a very long inspiration. When at the bottom, 

 they give a signal to those in the boat to draw 

 up the stone, which done, they go to work, fill- 

 ing their net as fast as they can ; and then giving 

 another signal, the boats above pull up the net 

 loaded with oysters, and shortly after the diver 

 himself, to take a new inspiration. All the oys- 

 ters are brought on shore, where they are laid in 

 a great heap till the pearl fishery is over, which 

 continues during the months of November and 

 December." 



The fishing season being over, they then ex- 

 amine every oyster for the pearls; but they are 

 not always alike successful, for some seasons turn 

 out infinitely more advantageous than others, not 

 entirely arising from the numbers they obtain, 

 bat from their value, which increases not only 

 in proportion to their size, but also in their 

 figure and color; some are found of an oblong, 

 others nearly round ; some are white, others have 

 a yellowish shade; others are of a led color, and 

 some, though vere rarely, are met with as black 

 as jet. 



2s? 



