848 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June r, 1888. 
as irregular in shape, few assuming the spherioal 
form. Those " seed pearls," therefore, must de- 
rive their main value from the fancy of native 
chiefs and rajahs that the carbonate of lime yielded 
by the combustion of such pearls is specially 
desirable as " chunam" to be used with betel-leaf, 
arekanut, tobacco, and other ingredients of the 
favourite oriental masticatory ? Of course, the 
principles on which the only fishery possible since 
the North Borneo Government was organized has 
been competed, contrast as strongly with the Ceylon 
system of careful conservation and working on 
Government account as do the qualities of the 
respective shells. In Ceylon, Government as pro- 
prietor and conservator of the pearl banks claims 
two-thirds of the oysters fished, while in Borneo, 
the Government takes 15 per cent of the proceeds 
of the fishery and a poll-tax of one dollar from 
each nun engaged in the work of collecting the shells. 
The mode in which the value of the Borneo fishery 
was ascertained does not appear. Some rough and 
ready, approximate method was no doubt adopted, 
sufficiently accurate for the purpose. Fishing in 
from 3 to 10 feet water is far less toilsome and 
risky than diving in an average of 7 fathoms, so 
that the Borneo fishermen must have been well 
rewarded in comparison, that is, if the small 
irregular pearls fetched appreciable priees. The 
North Borneo oysters which grow on sand or mud 
banks at the mouths of rivers might, perhaps, 
be advantageously introduced into Ceylon and 
cultivated for their edible qualities, the small 
pearls coming in as a by-produot ; while, if 
careful marine surveying proves the existence off the 
shores of North Borneo of coral-strewed and algte- 
growing banks with an average depth of seven fathoms 
of water over them, the Government of the New 
Ceylon might well consider the advisability of 
making experiments with the true pearl oyster 
(Avicula [meleagrina] ftjcata *), the shells being 
obtained either from Ceylon or Western Australia, 
and conveyed in large tanks filled with sea-water. 
When Capt. Donnan has seen and examined the 
North Borneo shells, we sfeall doubtless be able 
to speak more confidently of their conch ological 
position. 
After writing so far, we referred to an extract 
from the North Borneo Herald, embodied in our 
compilation "All About Gold, Gems and Pearls." 
The article is descriptive of " Seed-pearl Shelling 
at Batu Batu Bay." In quoting this article origi- 
nally into the Observer, we remarked that " the 
pearl shell alluded to is the speeies found in Tam- 
balagam Bay, near Trinccvmalee, the large thin shells 
of which are said to be used by the Chifiese as 
substitutes for window glass, and which are put to 
artistic use, small pictures being painted on them, 
having all the effect of transparencies." The 
article quoted distinctly states that the " seed- 
pearl shells " (and it is of these that Mr. Cook 
writes) are of the species Placuna placenta, called 
by the natives "selessip." (chippei or sippei is 
the Tamil for shell.) Only the old shells were 
fished, and although there is no statement that-- 
the animal was eaten in a fresh state, we are 
told that besides the value of the seed pearls and 
thp shells, the oystrr (that is the flesh of the 
animals inhabiting the shells) dried in the sun, 
but not salted, sold for from $4 to $6 per picul 
in Labuan. The oysters, therefore, are edible ; 
they bear only seed pearls, and they breed on 
* Mr. H. S. Thomas of Madras is supported by 
the British Museum authorities in insisting on this 
change, Avicva [viecar/rinaj margabitifera being 
property tlic name of the large Australian mother-o'- 
pearl shell which attains dimensions of 12 inches against 
threo for the true pearl oyster. 
mud-banks in shallow water, for the article 
quoted states : — "The scene on the sand or 
mud banks in the bay is lively, — men, 
women, and children, up to their knees in 
water, gathering the shells that are imbedded." 
The shells sell for $1.80 to $2 in Singapore, and 
regarding the " seed pearls," we are told that they 
" are sold in Labuan at one Mayam $1.80 ; one 
Bastinga, 10 Mayams $80. A great many of the 
seed pearls are disposed of in the village at Batu 
Batu. When the fisherman buys his few neces- 
saries at the Chinaman's shop, he pulls out hie 
little bundle of seed pearls and pays in that cur- 
rency, the Chinaman making a good thing out of 
this transaction. These seed pearls are not much 
valued in Europe, but in China they are used as 
ornaments or pounded into medicine, and the 
shells being, thin and transparent, are also 
a substitute for window glass." 
Then we have the statement that the fishermen 
themselves had suggested the poll-tax of $1 per 
person employed in fishing. It thus seems highly 
probable that the oysters written about by Mr. 
Cook are of the inferior species (for pearl yielding) 
Placuna placenta. The distinction between, this and 
the true pearl oyster was indicated in the pearl 
fishery papers sent from Ceylon, but Mr. Cook 
may not have had time to read them fully. It 
is curious, however, that he did not describe the 
shell as large, flat and thin, these being remarkable 
characteristics of Placuna placenta, Of this oyster 
' as found in Ceylon we have never heard that it 
was edible ? In Ceylon as in North Borneo these 
shells delight in brackish water, and on more than one 
occasion, an excess of either salt water or 
fresh has proved fatal to great numbers of them. 
This statement by Tennent renders it Still more 
likely that the " seed pearl oyster" referred to by 
Mr. Cook is Placuna placenta. Tennent states that 
the minute pearls from this shell " are exported 
to the coast of India to be calcined for lime, 
which the luxurious affect to chew with their betel. 
These pearls are also burned in the mouths of the 
dead." When the shells from North Borneo reach 
Capt. Donnan, we suspect he will decide that we 
have guessed correotly, and that there is no occasion 
for us in Ceylon to import pearl or edible 
oysters from Borneo, however the question may 
be decided of Borneo indenting on Ceylon for a 
supply of the true pearl oyster, Avicula [melea- 
grina] fucata. 
(Letter referred to.) 
The Treasury, Sandakan, 11th April 1888. 
W. D. Gibbon, Esq., Agent for the Government 
of British North Borneo, Kandy, Ceylon. 
Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the 
receipt of your letter of the 5th ultimo on the 
subject of pearl oyster fisheries, and I am directed 
to thank you for the valuable information furnished, 
and to ask you to be good enough to convey 
the thankB of this Government to your Colonial 
Secretary and Messrs. A. M. & J. Ferguson for 
►the kind and courteous manner in which they have 
supplied the papers and reports on the subject. 
The book on " Gold, Gems, and Pearls " is parti- 
cularly useful as a permanent source of information. 
On reading Captain Donnan's report on the 
Ceylon fisheries, I tried to associate your Ceylon 
oysters with that of North Borneo, but hardly 
think I have succeeded. 
Yours is found on coral or rocky banks in about 
7 or 8 fathoms. The size of the shell is said 
to be about 3 inches ; the oyster is not edible, 
at least it is not readily eaten by the natives ; 
while mud passing over the banks ia thought to 
be one of the causes of destruction. 
