THE PHILIPPINE V 



Journal of Science 



D. General Biology, Ethnology, 

 AND Anthropology 



Vol. XI JULY, 1916 No. 4 



SEA PRODUCTS OF MINDANAO AND SULU, II: PEARLS, PEARL 

 SHELLS, AND BUTTON SHELLS 



By Alvin Seale 



(From the Section of Fisheries, Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, 



Manila, P. I.) 



THREE PLATES 

 PEARLS AND PEARL SHELLS 



Next to the food fishes the most valuable products of the 

 Sulu Sea are the pearls and pearl shells. 



During 1914 there were exported from the Sulu Archipelago 

 300,794 kilograms of pearl shells, valued at 349,498 pesos,^ and 

 pearls with an estimated value of 1,000,000 pesos. 



In Japan the cultivation of the pearl oyster receives great 

 attention, and the growing of cultural pearls gives employment 

 to hundreds of families. There is not a single place in the 

 Philippine Islands where the pearl oyster is cultivated. The 

 Government has supplied information,^ and a law provides for 

 the lease of pearl farms. Here is a good practical work for 

 the schools of the Sulu region to undertake. A school pearl 

 farm would yield a greater revenue than a school garden, and 

 a little information on the subject would benefit the entire 

 Archipelago. 



THE PHILIPPINE PEARL OYSTER 



The Philippine pearl oyster of commerce, known to the trade 

 as the "Sooloo mother of pearl shell" (M. 0. P.), is the gold-lip 

 pearl oyster, Margaritifera maxima Jameson. It is found 



' One peso Philippine currency equals 100 centavos, equals 50 cents United 

 States currency. 



• This Journal, Sec. D (1910), 5, 94. 



141744 245 



