248 MOLLUSCA. 



of Mytilus. Our information is abridged from a 

 recent work,* by the Count de Noe, a French officer 

 in the British service formerly stationed at Ceylon. 



" The pearl Oysters lie in banks at greater or 

 less depths in the sea. These banks occur on the 

 western side of the island of Ceylon, about fifteen 

 miles from the shore, where their average depth is 

 about twelve fathoms. The fishery always com- 

 mences in April; because the sea is at that time 

 in its calmest state, and continues to the end of 

 May. Not only are multitudes of natives attracted 

 to the coast, but crowds of speculators from all parts 

 of India, whose various language, manners, and 

 dress, are very striking and pleasing. The tempo- 

 rary abodes erected for them are also curious and 

 picturesque. On the solitary shore, a collection of 

 almost innumerable huts is at once seen to arise on 

 the eve of the fishery. These huts are merely a few 

 poles stuck in the ground, interwoven with light bam- 

 boos, and covered with cocoa-nut leaves, yet these 

 slight habitations often shelter one hundred and fifty 

 thousand persons. 



" The signal for beginning the fishery is given at 

 daybreak, by the discharge of a cannon, on which 

 a countless fleet of boats, that have started from the 

 shore at midnight, and favoured by a land breeze, 

 have reached the banks before dawn, cast anchor on 

 certain prescribed parts of the banks, and proceed to 

 work. Government vessels are on the spot, to pre- 

 vent any boat from fishing beyond its proper limits. 

 * Memoires relatifs a TExpedition Anglais, &c. 



