THE PEARL FISHERIES OE CEYLON 
175 
1854. in 1864 to 1873, and in 1892 to 
1900. 
It was this last long series of recurring 
failures that induced the Ceylon govern- 
ment to secure the services of an eminent 
English biologist for a comprehensive 
investigation of the pearl-oyster grounds 
and of the causes for the disastrous fail- 
ures. The result was that a great deal 
was made known concerning the condi- 
tions of life of the pearl oyster, and for 
the first time information was afforded 
the government by which the industry 
might be placed on a stable basis. Forth- 
with, in spite of a vigorous protest, the 
government leased the pearl fishery to a 
private syndicate and retired from the 
iDUsiness from which it had been obtain- 
ing a large but not steady income. 
WONDURFUIv PRODUCTlVIiNESS OF THE 
pe;arl oyster 
As we study the life of the Ceylon 
pearl oyster, two points of transcendent 
importance are disclosed : ( i ) The mol- 
lusk is prolific to an incalculable degree, 
and (2) it is subject to an overwhelming 
mortality, which at times completely nul- 
lifies its productiveness. 
The numbers of oysters produced are 
absolutely beyond comprehension. A few 
years ago, on one paar five miles long 
and two miles wide, small pearl oysters 
were ascertained to be present to the 
number of 10,000 per square yard, in 
places forming a layer over the bottom 
nine inches deep ; one diver, who was 
•down only 30 seconds, brought up 3,225 
young oysters by actual count. This con- 
dition of the grounds was determined in 
November by government inspectors ; in 
December of the same year no oysters 
whatever were found — all had disap- 
peared as if by magic. On another bank, 
known as the Periya Paar, scientific ex- 
perts in the year 1902 estimated the num- 
ber of young oysters at one hundred 
thousand million, but so insecure was 
their existence that on inspection a few 
months later it was found that all had 
been swept away. 
This destruction is due to a variety of 
causes, but principally to two : physical 
agencies, such as the burying of the oys- 
ters by sand, which are ordinarily re- 
sponsible for only 4 to 5 per cent of 
the mortality ; and animals, particularly 
fishes, of which various kinds and sizes 
feed largely on the pearl oysters, and are 
so charged with fully 90 per cent of all 
the losses to which the young and full- 
grown mollusks are subject. 
Trigger-fishes, sting-rays, and other 
species with powerful jaws and strong 
digestive powers frequent the pearling 
grounds in hordes and find the pearl oys- 
ters entirely to their liking. Suggestions 
for protecting the grounds from the rav- 
ages of fishes have been made at different 
times. No practicable remedy has been 
offered, however ; and, even if there 
were, there might be a potent reason for 
not applying it in the fact that this de- 
struction of oysters by fishes is a step — 
and an essential one — in the formation 
of pearls. 
ADMINISTRATION OE THE PEARL EISHERIES 
Up to a few years ago, and for more 
than a century before, the British offi- 
cials in Ceylon had absolute control of 
the fishery, and determined when a 
fishery should occur and what grounds 
should be opened to the divers. This 
determination was based on an exami- 
nation of the various grounds in the 
November preceding a fishery, and a 
preparatory inspection of the particular 
grounds selected in the following Feb- 
ruary. 
The preliminary inspection of the oys- 
ter beds on which it is proposed to permit 
the divers to work is for the purpose (i) 
of ascertaining the approximate number 
of pearl oysters that may be taken, (2) 
of marking the areas on which fishing 
is to be allowed, (3) of specifying the 
number of boats on each area and the 
number of days that are to be devoted to 
the fishery, and (4) of making an official 
valuation of the prospective pearls in 
order that the fishery may be advertised. 
The official examination of the oyster 
grounds immediately before a fishery is 
one of the most interesting features of 
this great industry. The inspector an- 
chors his boat in the center of what is 
regarded as a typical area, and is at- 
tended by four smaller boats each con- 
taining three divers. These boats are 
