HORNELL MARINE HKSOI liCKS 17 



But while a village industry in pearl-fishing is moderately successful in 

 there is no possibility of introducing similar methods in Okhamandal, because the 

 suitable shore-line there is far too restricted to furnish more than a few do/en oysters 

 even if large numbers of men be employed on all available days. It is not as though 

 the whole shore-line is of oyster-bearing A r alue ; much more than half is unsuitable,. 



Nature unaided fails us in this matter ; it may be then asked whether science 

 cannot help whether some form of culture might not be successfully introduced. 



Reluctantly I must answer in the negative so far as present methods go. In the 

 case of M. vulgaris, the small pearl oyster living there, the shell is of such little 

 value, so thin and convex, that it is fished for the pearls that may be contained and 

 not for its shell. But pearl-bearers form always so very small a proportion of the 

 catch that if we were to cultivate them in cases or otherwise we should find so many 

 unproductive of pearls that the expenses of spat-collection, supervision, and upkeep 

 would entail certain failure under such conditions as we have around Beyt. Were 

 there beds of natural spat available for transplantation in the neighbourhood, the 

 attempt indeed might be made, not otherwise. 



Were we able, however, to control and induce the production of fine quality 

 pearls in any given oysters I do not refer to the imperfect or attached pearls 

 produced in Japanese oysters on the lines of the ancient Chinese plan then it 

 might be practicable to carry on such special culture at several localities in 

 Beyt Harbour, seeing that the strong tides experienced there are favourable to 

 the rapid growth and maturing of the oysters laid down there. But such a proposition 

 is one requiring a combination of skill and organisation not at present available 

 and would be a commercial enterprise unsuitable for a Government to undertake. 



The most that I can suggest is that for the present the collection of pearl 

 oysters be leased out, if possible in conjunction with that of chanks that is, that 

 one lease should cover both products, because if they were leased separately 

 there would probably be friction between the respective renters ; the chank renter 

 and the pearl oyster renter would naturally fear invasion of their respective rights. 

 As to restrictive regulations if this proposal be acted upon, I do not consider the 

 enactment of a size limit is practicable or would be of any value. But the reservation 

 in rotation of different sections of the coast for stated periods during which all 

 fishing therein for pearl oysters and chanks shall be forbidden, is both feasible 

 and likely to result in material benefit to both fisheries. 



Under the heading of " Summary of Recommendations " I shall take up this 

 proposition in detail. 



