THE PEARL FISHERY OF BANTAYAN. 151 



artificial culture of pearl o\'sters. If a practical method ^ of rearing 

 the young oj'sters through the larval i^eriod to the time when they set- 

 tle upon the bottom, and also for jDlanting them over this great shoal 

 could be discovered, the value of the Bautayan jDearl fishery would be 

 multiplied many hundred times, for every part of the shoal seems equally 

 adapted to the needs of the oyster. 



The pearl button factories of the United States for many years have 

 been using the shells of clams" found in the Mississippi Eiver and its 

 tributaries. These, once so numerous, are reduced now to such an extent 

 that the industry is in danger of extinction. A knowledge of these 

 facts led Prof. W. C. Curtis in 1898 to commence a study of the develop- 

 ment of the clams and to exjjeriment in rearing them under artificial 

 conditions. Later he was joined in this worlv by Prof. George Lefevre. 

 The experiments have reached a stage where they promise success, and 

 lately the United States Pish Commission has built a laboratory on the 

 upper Mississipjji to enable these two men to carry on their experiments 

 ,on a larger scale. 



We have similar conditions affecting the pearl fisheries in the Philip- 

 pines. Pearl shells are found in limited numbers in nearly all parts of 

 the Archipelago. They are of a finer quality than the Ceylon or Persian 

 shells, and consequently available for an immense variety of uses. All 

 requisites for the growth of the oyster seem to be favorable, excepting 

 some condition affecting the young at the time when they cease swimming 

 and settle down. If a practical means of artificial jDlanting could be 

 introduced such as is now employed in Ceylon, the shores of the Phil- 

 ippine Islands could be lined with pearl. 



The food fisheries of Bantayan are second in the PhilipjDines, ranking 

 next to those of Zamboanga. The value of the fishes disposed of to 

 dealers (probably for export) during 1908 was 18,250 pesos (9,125 

 dollars United States currency). Boats come here from Cebu, Negros, 

 and even Panay, to take cargoes of dried or pickled fish. At present 

 there are 380 fish traps licensed by the municipality. In addition, large 

 quantities of dried Holuthurians (trepang, Beehe de mer) are prepared 

 here, the export sales for last year amounting to 3,277 pesos and 11 

 centavos (1,638 dollars and 56 cents United States currency). This 

 figure can be raised very considerably by increased industry on the part 

 of the Bantayanos. 



^ One practical measure would be the complete closing. of this bed, or at least 

 half of it, for three years, so that there will be enough mature oysters left to 

 repopvilate it, and "clutch," i. e., dead coral, rocks, old shells, etc., should be 

 scattered over the bottom so that the young may have material to which they 

 can attach. In this way the bed could be made much more productive than 

 when first opened. 



