368 THE OCEAN WORLD, 
In these latter countries the pearl fishing does not commence till 
the months of July and August, the sea being at that time calmer than 
in other months of the year. Arrived on their fishing-ground, the 
fishermen range their barques at a proper distance from each other, 
and cast anchor in water from eight to nine fathoms deep. The 
process is pursued here in a very simple manner. When about to 
descend the divers pass a cord, the extremity of which communicates 
with a bell placed in the barque, under the armpits ; they put cotton 
in their ears, and press the nostrils together with a piece of wood or 
horn; they close their mouths hermetically, attach a heavy stone to 
their feet, and at once sink to the bottom of the sea, where they 
gather indiscriminately all shells within their reach, which they throw 
into a bag suspended round their haunches. When they require to 
breathe they sound the bell, and immediately they are assisted in 
their ascent. 
On the oyster-banks off the Isle of Bahrein the pearl fishery pro- 
duces about £240,000 ; and if we add to this the addition furnished 
by the other fisheries of the neighbourhood, the sum total yielded by 
the Arabian coast would probably not fall short of £350,000. 
In South America similar fisheries exist. Before the Mexican 
conquest the pearl fisheries were located between Acapulco and the 
Gulf of Tehuantepec; subsequently they were established round the 
Islands of Cubagua, Margarita,and Panama. The results became so 
full of promise that populous cities were not slow to raise themselves 
round these several places. 
Under the reign of Charles V., America sent to Spain pearls 
valued at £160,000; in the present day they are estimated to be 
worth £60,000. In the places mentioned, the divers descend into 
the sea quite naked ; they remain there from twenty-five to thirty 
seconds, during which space they can only secure three or four 
pintadines. They dive in this way a dozen times in succession, 
which gives an average of between thirty and forty bivalves to each 
diver. 
The shells are carried on shore, and piled up on mats of Espartero 
grass. The mollusc dies, and soon becomes decomposed; it requires 
ten days to be thoroughly disorganised. When in a thoroughly 
decayed state, they are thrown into reservoirs of sea water, when they 
are opened, washed, and handed over to the dealers. The valves 
furnish nacre, and the pear/s are found in the soft decayed substance 
of the mollusc. 
The valves are cleansed, and piled up in tuns or casks; by taking 
