248 The Philippine Journal of Science i9i6 



From the deck of the revenue cutter Gilbert I counted six large 

 pearl oysters on the bottom while we were anchored in 12 fathoms 

 on the east side of Lahatlahat Island. Only three pearling boats 

 were observed operating on the Laparan beds. 



The Pangutarang pearl beds. — The Pangutarang pearl beds 

 include the following islands and the adjacent islets, shoals, and 

 intermediate waters: Pangutarang, North Ubian, Malicut, Bas- 

 bas, Cunilan, Usada, Ticul, Panducan, Kulassein, Tubigan, and 

 Teomabal. One of the richest pearl patches ever discovered 

 in the Philippines was located on these beds a short distance east 

 of Basbas Island. No pearling boats were seen on the Pan- 

 gutarang beds, but several Moro dredges were in operation. 



The Pilas pearl beds. — The following islands and the adjacent 

 islets, shoals, and intermediate waters constitute the Pilas pearl 

 beds: Pilas, Manangal, Palajangan, Mamannak, Pasigpasilan, 

 Salkulakit, Lakits, Kaludlud, Dassalan, Sangboy, Pabunuan, 

 Teinga, and Favorite Bank. Some years ago a Zamboanga 

 pearler took a vast number of shells from these beds, and their 

 recovery from this overfishing has been very slow. Three pearl- 

 ing boats were operating on the Pilas beds with but poor success. 



The Samales pearl beds. — In the Samales beds are included all 

 of the islands in the Samales, Tapiantana, and Bolod Groups and 

 the intermediate waters, islets, and shoals from Salupin Island 

 on the east to Manungut on the west. The principal islands 

 are: Manungut, Bangalao, Simisa, Balanguingui, Mamanoc, 

 Parol, Tonquil, Bulan, Memad, Dipolod, Tatalan, East and West 

 Bolod, Lanahuan, Tapiantana, Bubuan, Timbungan, and Salupin. 

 The Samales beds are very prolific and are constantly worked by 

 the pearlers. Within the past few years some very rich patches 

 of pearl-shell beds have been found here. 



The Basilan pearl beds. — The Basilan beds include the shore 

 line of Basilan and the adjacent islands of Malamaui, Lampini- 

 gan, Balukbaluk, Teingalaguit, Tengolan, Mataja, Odel, Teipono, 

 Tamuk, Cancuman, Lahatlahat, Bihintinusa, Kauluan, Coco, 

 Sibago, and Lanhil. The yield of shells from the Basilan beds 

 was exceptionally large during July and August, 1914, and a 

 portion of the pearling fleet has been operating on these beds 

 with considerable success. 



The Mindanao pearl beds. — The waters surrounding the great 

 island of Mindanao have not been well prospected for pearl beds, 

 and with the exception of the well-known pearling ground in 

 Basilan Strait and in Pakoputin Strait, Davao Gulf, very little 

 is known regarding the Mindanao beds. Therefore I have in- 



