258 The Philippine Journal of Science i9i6 



advances ranging from 1 to 400 pesos. The great majority of 

 the divers are Japanese. 



Two of the pearling boats have recently been equipped with 

 the Hinkey motor-driven air pump, which lowers the cost of 

 operation as compared with the amount of shells taken. These 

 air pumps seem to give perfect satisfaction and certainly in- 

 crease the factor of safety. The cost of operating the boats 

 with motor-driven pumps is given as 370 pesos per month. They 

 secure more shells. 



If the average expense of operating a pearling boat is 300 

 pesos per month, or 3,600 pesos per annum, the fleet of seventy- 

 four boats expends 266,400 pesos per annum and must earn this 

 amount to clear expenses. 



The value of a fully equipped pearling boat is between 2,000 

 and 8,000 pesos; at an average value of 4,000 pesos the entire 

 fleet is worth 296,000 pesos. 



Captain Duncun, who was recently in the Philippine Islands 

 investigating the pearling industry for the Clark Company of 

 Australia, told me he was satisfied that the pearlers were making 

 a fair profit and that his company would like the privilege of 

 bringing in twelve new pearling boats for which they would 

 gladly pay the 300 pesos license in advance, and abide by the 

 law. 



One serious phase of the pearl fishery is the high mortality 

 among the divers, which amounted to nine during 1913, and 

 seven up to May 4, 1914. The chief causes seem to be inex- 

 perience and ambition to work in deep water. Some means 

 should be devised for correcting these harmful conditions. The 

 owners warn the divers against working in deep water, but the 

 admonitions seem to do no good. 



ADMINISTRATION OF THE PEARLING FISHERIES 



The old pearling law. Act No. 51 of the Legislative Council 

 of Moro Province, has been a failure; except in as much as 

 it has protected the undersized shells, it has benefited the Japa- 

 nese only and enabled them to maintain control. The law pro- 

 tected Margaritifera margaritifera, which is not the common 

 Philippine pearl oyster, so that the real Philippine pearl oyster, 

 Margaritifera maxima Jameson, technically had no protection 

 at all. I believe that the new law (Act No. 2604 of the Phil- 

 ippine Legislature) will correct these defects. 



