January x, i8go.l THF TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
463 
and Phipps and an expression of the Board's opinion, 
that in view of the reports received from England, 
and the fact that the steam engine on the " Margaret 
Nortbcote " is not sufficiently powerful to work the 
apparatus necessary for electric lighting, they do not 
feel justified in recommending that any experiments 
of the kind suggested be made. If, hereafter, from 
experiments made under suitable conditions, it should 
appear that it will be useful to conduct the pearl 
fishery, with electric lighting, it can be adopted. 
But neither the agenoy nor the engine power at the 
Board's command is suitahle for conducting experi- 
ments. It will be observed that this opinion is vir- 
tually concurred in by Mr. Thurston and Mr. Phipps. 
Mr. Thurston referred to his former opinion that, 
" should experiments be carried out and proved that ma- 
terial advantage is not obtained by the use of the 
electric light at depths of 10 fathoms and upwards, 
the experiments carried out by Professor Herdman, 
with whom I conversed on the subject, nevertheless, 
show clearly that the eloctrio lisrVit is a most valuable 
adjunct in connection with scientific dredging. Leav- 
ing, however, science out of the question and consi- 
dering suhmarine electric lighting solelv from the stand- 
point of its practical use as regards pearl fishery 
operations, I feel convinced that the expenditure, 
which would be incurred in the purchase and main- 
tenance of the necpssarv apparatus, would not be jus- 
tified by the results obtained. I have read carefully 
through the correspondence, forwarded to me and the 
most practical observations seem to me to be those 
made by Mr. C. E. Fryer, Inspector of Fisheries, who, 
while referring f o the absence of an v direct experience 
upon the point to which the Madras Government refers, 
says : — ' 1 venture to suggest that the observations 
which the Government of Madras desire to make 
upon the habits of the pearl oyster would be greatlv 
facilitated by the employment of a diver equipped 
with an ordinary diving dress. By this means a pro- 
longed stay could be made by an observer on the sea 
bottom, who could not only make an accurate survey 
of the bed, but could periodically examine the same 
ground, select specimens, and make minute observa- 
tions, which would be impossible to an observer at 
the surface, and are equally impossible to a native 
diver, whose stay at the bottom is limited to a minute 
or so.' To these remarks I tnav add my own ex- 
perience, when recently engaged at the Tuticorin 
and Ceylon fisheries, where, bv examination of the 
shells of the oyster* brought in bv the divers by 
expending small sums of money which tempted the 
native divers to bring me such marine animals 
(corals, star-fishes, sponge", &c.) as they met with at 
the sea-bottom, by conversation with the European 
diver, who -was. further able to brine up large coral 
blocks for examination, and by dredging. I was able 
to form a very good idea as to the conditions under 
which the pearl ovsters were living." 
Mr. Phipps stated : — 
"lam not aware what pood result is likely to be gained 
by the use of an electric light on the Tuticorin pearl 
banks : when examinations are made it is always 
during fine, and, if possible, calm weather when the 
strength of the sun's rays penetrates to the bottom 
of the sea, enabling the divers to distinguish the 
vari( us shells, &c , of which they are in pursuit, it 
is never found convenient to work at night, nor would 
the divers care to do so. In respect to the clearness 
of the sea, although it happens that from the deck of 
the vessel you can watch a diver descending until 
he reaohes the ground level, he is then quicHv'ost 
to the view as the water is easily disturbed. T have 
no doubt, that on a dark night an electric light 
lowered from a sbip's side, if the wat<-r was quite 
clear, would enable the bottom to be ob>erved, but 
what good would result from this when we alreadv 
possess reliable information gipon,..! from both 
helmet and native divers. I may add Ibat the water 
on the Tinnevelly coast is never so clear as it is 
at the Laccadive or Chagos islands where the 
absence of anything like mud or river drainage keeps 
tho sea quite bright : at these islands 1 have often 
watohed fish swimming in and out amongst tho 
corals in from 10 to 15 fathoms depths and playing 
around the vessel's anchor; this can never be done 
on the coast. As really there is no necessity for 
obtaining this electric light apparatus and no profit 
from its use likely to accrue, I am of opinion that 
it would he a very useless expenditure, the Steamer 
"Margaret Northcote" could not be used unless entirely 
refitted with a costly set of new engine and boiler. 
The water telescope is by no means easy to use as 
there is nearly always some motion op the banks any 
the field of observation small. I have often watched 
the bottom when at the Laccadive islands through 
the glass side light in the cabin of the " Margaret 
Northcote" as the vessel'rolled in the heavy swell and 
was snrprised how clearly things down below could 
be distinguished. I wou'd suggest that if a sheet 
of thick glass could be let into the lower plates of 
a vessel and there protected both out and inside in 
some way from accident, a stndv of the sea bottom 
in clear-water either by day with the sun's rays or 
by night by the use of a powerful electric light 
could be made. This may appear a rather wild 
suggestion, but I believe it would be found wonder- 
fnllv useful." 
Either this, or the use of oil on the surface of 
troubled water, seems the most feasible mode of 
examination, apart from sending divers down. 
Lord Cross finallv sent the replies from Australia: — 
From Thomas W. Smith. Esq., Inspector, Pearl 
Shell Fisheries. — The electric light is not used in the 
nearl shell fisheries of Western Australia nor have I 
heard of it being used in connection with the fisheries 
on any part of the Anstralian coast. 
From Captain C. R. Russell, r n., Chief Harb or 
Master. —I am not able to find that hitherto the 
electric light has been used for the pearl fishing in 
South Australia, either to gather shell or to observe 
the habits of the oyster. Mr. Clark has lately re- 
turned from the other colonies, and states, in a. letter 
herewith, that he has never known the electric light 
used for the pearl fisheries in any Australian waters, 
fiaptain Smith also states above that he has never 
heard of it. 
From .Tames Clark. Esq , to Captain "Russell, 1? n. 
dated Fremantle.. — In reply to your inquiry about the 
use of the electric light in the pearl fisheries, in 
Australia. I have to say that I have never known it 
used in the fisheries, nor is it: required. The habits of 
the pearl oyster conld be studied without its use. while 
for working, were it required, its cost would not allow 
it to be used profitably. I have been pearling eight 
years. 
After all this it is not surprising that the "Order" 
of the Governor of Madras shnu'd he: — 
After a e»reful consideration of the papers read 
above, Ffis Excellency the Governor in Council has 
come to the conclusion that the project of employ, 
ing electric lights in connection with pearl fisheries 
should be abandoned, and resolves to inform the 
Right Honourable the Secretary of State for India 
accordingly. 
We made the above lengthy extracts because of 
the general as well as local interest of the subjpct. 
We have found it difficult to make room for the 
matter ; but, in view of the announcement of an 
important pearl fishery, we devote a sppcial supple- 
ment to the publication of the correspondence, 
adding other interesting matter. 
.. _. — . 
CA^AO, &C.--THE TRINIDAD " AGRI- 
CULTURAL RECORD." 
We have received the first number of this periodical, 
which has been started as the organ of a Central and 
District Agricu'tural Boards, which have been 
formed for the be'ter promotion of those improve- 
ments in agriculture in regard to which the Gover- 
nor, Sir W. Robinson, has shown so much interest, 
and which he has done so much to further. The 
scope of tho " Agricultural Record " will embrace 
roports on botanical, chemical and agricultural 
