94 



TEANSPL.VNTING AND CDLTIVATING THE PEARL OYSTEK. 



Pearl oysters may with but little difficulty be transported for several 

 days, if they are kept in running salt water, or if the water is changed 

 frequently: thus the question of transplanting them from one bed to 

 another in a more convenient locality, or in water of less depth, becomes 

 a comparatively simple one and will doubtless play an important part in 

 the pearl oyster industry of the future. 



As a matter of fact, the Ceylon government is, or was at a recent date, 

 engaged extensively in the transplanting of young oysters and the distri- 

 buting of "clutch," i. e., rock of small size which is scattered over the 

 bottom of the oyster beds, and to which the 3'oung oysters become attached. 

 The young pearl oysters are removed from beds which are overcrowded 

 to others which are less productive. 



It would be an easy matter for men engaged in pearling to keep 

 suspended over the side of their vessels bamboo crates or cars in which 

 they could place the young oysters which are frequently brought up, and 

 so transport them to a favorable place for development, as is the case 

 in the sponge fisheries.'' In this way they might, with but little effort, 

 accumulate a valuable pearl farm where a number of oysters could be 

 harvested each year and the bed looked after just as in the case of the 

 edible oyster. The vdeld of pearls and shell would doubtless pay a good 

 dividend. This process would especially be easy to carry out in the 

 Davao fisheries which are near shore and where local people are engaged 

 in the fishing. Such farms should simulate the natural beds so far as 

 practicable, but improvements over natural conditions could be effected 

 by supplying an abundance of small, broken rock as "clutch," upon 

 which the young could attach; the keeping of the beds free from un- 

 desirable tenants, such as star fi.sh. holothurians, etc., could be accom- 

 plished by dredging. 



LAWS KELATING TO PEAEL FISHING. 



I have abstracted the laws,' or at least such portions of them not 

 repealed by amendments, as are now in force in the Islands.* They are 

 of undoubted benefit in protecting the young shells, and, for the greater 

 part, relate to the waters of the Moro Province. In other portions of the 

 Archipelago, various local acts and provincial legislation greatly handicap 

 the pearling industry. 



'This Journal, Sec. A (1909), 4, 62, 03. 



' These laws were enacted by the legislative council of the Moro Province. A 

 copy of them may be secured from the provincial treasurer of either Jolo or Zam- 

 boanga. 



'Sec. 23, Act No. 51, of the Philippine Commission should read: "The words 

 'pearl shell and shell of the pearl oyster as used in Act No. 43 of the Legislative 

 Council and in this Act shall be construed to mean the shell of the marine bivalve 

 mollusk Margaritifera maaima Jamson. commonly known as the Philippine gold 

 lip pearl oyster.' " 



