52 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



dols.). Beds of pearls are found at various depths as far down as 

 eighteen fathoms. The general depth at which they are found is, 

 however, from four to eight fathoms. The season lasts from April 

 to September. Most of the shells are brought to the little harbour 

 of Lingah ; thence a considerable quantity of mother-of-pearl is 

 shipped direct to London, only a small quantity going to the 

 continent of Europe. Many pearls, especially those of a yellow 

 colour and those having a complete cone-shape, are sent to 

 Bombay. Bagdad is a considerable market for white pearls. The 

 shells which come to England from Persia are mostly small and 

 have a subdued lustre ; but, as a rule, they have higher prices 

 than the Panama and Tahiti shells. The annual quantity im- 

 ported is rarely less than 300,000 pounds. The total value of the 

 pearls exported from the Persian Gulf during 1879 was 7,500,000 

 crowns (2,010,000 dols.). 



The Ceylon pearl fisheries are carried on on the west coast of 

 Ceylon, in the Gulf of Manaar, south of the island of the same 

 name, and also on the west coast of India, near Tuticorin. The 

 beds lie in groups. One of these is opposite the town of Arippu, 

 and comprises the so-called Paria-par, Paria-par Karai, Cheval- 

 par, Kallutidel-par, and Modaragam-par. The famous Karaitivu 

 bed is opposite the town of that name. Other well-known beds 

 are the Karakupanai-par, and the Jekenpedai-par. All these beds 

 lie at a distance of at least six to eight miles from the coast, and 

 at a depth of five and a half to eight and a half fathoms from the 

 surface. They have a rocky bottom protruding from the sand, 

 and are exposed to the currents of the sea. The beds are under 

 the supervision of an inspector appointed by the local government, 

 which has the exclusive working of them. The labourers and 

 divers are natives, who as wages receive 25 per cent, of all the 

 pearls they find. Experience has shown that few pearls, and these 

 of little value, come from Mussels which are not older than five 

 years. During the fifth and sixth year the value doubles, and in 

 the seventh year it becomes fourfold. The pearls are not fully 

 matured if they are not taken out too soon ; and on the other 

 hand, the animal dies, if the pearls remain too long in the shells. 

 For these reasons pearl fishing is prohibited at certain seasons. 



Up to the year 1863 there was no system in these fisheries. 

 In 1863 there were caught on twenty-two fishing days 11,095,000 

 pearl-oysters, yielding pearls to the value of 918,324 crowns 



