BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 83 



of about .£11,000 per annum; but latterly the trade has much 

 declined. The price of pearls varies very much. The quotations 

 available give for a good round white pearl of three grains about 

 17s. to £1, and one of thirty grains from £85 to £100. 



Other Shells. — The trade in shells as curios has already been 

 referred to, but there is still a small commerce in shells for 

 manufacturing and useful purposes, such as — (1) Nacreous shells 

 for buttons, brooches, and similar useful articles ; (2) iridescent 

 shells for inlaying work ; (3) small shells for shell-flowers, basket- 

 work, ladies' ornaments ; (4) cameos ; (5) domestic articles. 



For some of these uses the Straits Settlements could secure an 

 extensive trade as far as nacreous shells are concerned, and some 

 of the smaller ornamental kinds, particularly the porcellanous 

 cowries. Quite recently a highly fashionable ornament for ladies 

 has been manufactured in France from the beautiful scarlet and 

 black Strombus luhuanus, which is one of the commonest shells 

 in the Archipelago, and might be shipped therefrom by tons. 

 Cameo shells of a fine character might be found in the very 

 common Murex saxatilis. A valuable export might also be 

 obtained from the opercula of certain Turbos (used for studs, 

 sleeve-links, &c), and in the larger clam-shells (Tridacna gigas, 

 and squamosa, Hippopus mamlatus, &c), and the common large 

 cones (Conus litteratus and millepunctatus). 



Cuttle-fish. — Cuttle-fish are consumed in the Malayan region 

 as amongst all the Easterns where they can be caught ; but they 

 do not appear to be nearly so abundant as on the Chinese and 

 Japanese coasts. The Chinese fishermen in the Straits use for 

 their capture a set of hooks like the arms of a chandelier, made 

 fast round a piece of wood with a sinker to which the line is 

 fastened. The hooks are long and very sharp, but without barbs. 

 The bait, which is generally a crustacean, is fastened to the centre- 

 piece, and the Cephalopods are taken below by the hooks as they 

 bite at it. A cuttle-fish boat, for there are special craft for the 

 fishery, is one of the most interesting sights which the fishing 

 industry affords. The capture is effected by means of a net, at 



