Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 199 



market rates as many lots as possible, and the 

 prices varied each day, according to the reports of 

 successful finding of Pearls. In rough numbers a 

 quarter of a million of oysters were purchased. As 

 the distance from Silavatorrai to Colombo was not 

 only very great, but bare of all means of transport, 

 a fleet of boats was kept constantly employed in 

 sailing between the fishery station and Colombo, 

 until all the oysters purchased had been brought to 

 the capital. 



The preparation of a place to receive the oysters, 

 and to carry on the washing and search for Pearls, 

 proved a most difificult undertaking. The first 

 journey of the small fleet landed about 12,000 

 oysters, each boat being capable of carrying a 

 thousand. The sacks containing the oysters were 

 sealed at Silavatorrai, whilst the oysters were alive, 

 and were conveyed to a large building on the beach 

 at Colombo. Preparations were at once made for 

 immediate washing but unfortunately the difficult 

 passage from Silavatorrai to Colombo, with contrary 

 winds, had so delayed the arrival of the boats, that 

 by the time they had reached the capital, the sacks 

 of oysters emitted a most unpleasant odour. The 

 Superintendent of Police, Captain Hansard, upon 

 receiving a complaint from the residents in the 

 neighbourhood, at once communicated with the 



