150 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. 37. 
PTERIA PERUVIANA Reeve. 
Plate 28, fig. 1. 
Avicula peruviana Reeve, Conchologia Iconica, vol. 10, Avicula, 1857, pl. 14, 
fig. 53 
Concha perla viuda, purchased in Paita. 
Distribution.—Gulf of California to Peru. 
Shell large, inequivalve, very inequilateral, thin, purple or reddish 
with radiating yellowish rays externally, internally pearly with a 
dull margin, hinge line produced into auricles or ‘“‘wings,’’ the pos- 
terior usually longer and more broad, the anterior smaller and sepa- 
rated from the body of the valve by a conspicuous sinus in the flat 
valve, surface smooth or slightly laminated, the body of the shell 
plump, the extremities compressed. Byssiferous and potentially 
migratory. 
This is the species originally abundant on this coast which supplied 
the pearl fisheries of Paita and Sechura bays, and at present the 
pearl industry of the Gulf of California. For the most part these 
fisheries have been destroyed by overfishing, and the mollusks no 
longer occur in sufficient profusion to afford a commerce of real 
importance. 
THE PEARL FISHERY IN PERU IN MODERN TIMES. 
It seems that on the finding of pearls two companies were formed, one of which 
held a concession from the Government to take pearls from Tallara on the north to 
the Rio Piura on the south, while the latter fished from this river south to the Punta 
Aguja. The southern company employed divers in Panama, and made a promising 
start. Something like 200 pearls were taken at the outset, yielding about $2,000 and 
repaying expenses. After this practically nothing was obtained. They then began 
exploring with dredges, the two companies finally working in conjunction in this inves- 
tigation. They worked in water of from 2 to 12 fathoms and up to a distance of 7 
miles from the shore, but failed to locate any bank of pearl oysters. It is believed, 
however, that there is somewhere in the bay a considerable bank of these shellfish, 
since when the wind blows stiffly from the north the beach is often strewn with the 
concha perlas. The conchas so found contain few pearls, and these of little value. 
The rastras which were used for exploring the bay were much like those used in 
Callao for concha abanicos, but with sharper teeth. No attempts have been made 
since 1901. The most valuable pearl was black and small, and worth. $400. For 
most of the above information I am indebted to Sr. Manuel Perez, who was the repre- 
sentative of the company which held the southern concession. 
Getting such directions as were practicable regarding the location ws the conchas 
were formerly encountered, I made several efforts with rastras to find them, but. 
without success in this direction. Other forms of especial interest were taken, how- 
ever. Later, at Paita, having obtained a dredge formerly used for the concha perlas, 
and a guide who had worked with one of the companies, we made other attempts a 
little south of Paita, but again with no success beyond the finding of a few dead shells. ~ 
It is evident from this and from the repeated failures of the pearl companies that the 
locating of these banks would be accomplished only by long and thorough survey. 
