Oct. 1, 1903.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUKIST. 
255 
OUR PEARL FISHRRIES AND MR. CORNELL'S 
GOOD WORK. 
Galle, August 31. 
Mr. James Hornell, of the Marine Laboratory, 
leaves toraorrovv for a month's stay at Peraileniya. 
While there, lie will turn his attention to Botany. 
On his return toGalie, Mr Hornell will work on till 
November, when he will go to the Pearl Fishery 
for inspection. The prospect ot a good fisliinp; next 
year is bright, and the oysters sliould be better 
developed as they will be a year older. The ex- 
periments in Galle have entirely proved Profess^,. 
Herdnjan's theory, that oysters could be taken 
away from their native waters, carried a consider- 
able distance and thrive in spite of the change. 
CEYLON PEARL FISHERY. 
Professor Herdman's work on the Ceylon Pearl 
Fishery will be published in parts by the Royal 
Society. The first part will touch on the com- 
mercial aspect of the cultivation of the pearl oyster, 
and as it will embody the result of Mr Hornell's 
experiments, the publication will be of paramount 
interest to readers in the island. 
THE MARINE LABORATORY. 
Since the removal of the Waste' Lands Office 
from the Laboratory building, Mr Hornell has 
had more room for his specimens. Amongst the 
latter we were shown oyster shells large and small, 
the larger shells being in some instances of more 
recent growth than the others. The stunted growth 
was explained as being due to want of nourish- 
ment or where the fringes ot shells have been cut 
away. Different specimens of corals were seen 
including some to which pearl oysters had attached 
themselves. In these cases, however, the coral in 
its growth had destroyed the oyster. We were also 
.shown masses of concrete and other bodies to which 
the oyster attaches itself, and Mr Hornell expli- 
citly explained how the gluey strings or threads 
thrown out by the oyster are hardened by contact 
with sea water. These threads the oyster casts off 
when it desires to move on to a better spot. 
EXHIBITS FOR ST. LOUIS. 
The exhibits Mr Hornell is preparing for the 
St. Louis Exhibition were packed in several 
cases. It is his intention to include a complete 
set of models showing how the pearl fishery is 
carried on in Ceylon — oysters themselves forming 
the most interesting portion at all stages of culture. 
The ravages on the pearl oyster by its enemies will 
also be fully illustrated. He will exhibit, too 
models of appliances used in other fishing industries, 
from the primitive rod and noose used in catching 
crabs and lobsters to the means wherewith deep 
sea fishing, edible oyster fishing, etc. are carried 
on. Ris models of boats are most complete. 
NEW INDUSTRIES. 
Sponges too will form part of the collection ; 
these are fished on the North-East coast, and Mr. 
Hornell thinks that the industry should be deve- 
loped as the .-ponges are good though not 
of the best variety, and will lead to a profitable 
trade in time. A collection of the shells of oysters 
fished off I'rincomalee (vvindovv-pane pearl oysters) 
has been secured. These are larpe and contain 
oysters, but are not fished by Government, the 
right to fish being given out on lease. Among the 
exhibits are samples of edible oysters from Ben- 
tota and Batticaloa, the latter mujh larger than 
the Bentota product. Mr. Hornell is of opinieu 
that the cultivation of edible oysters notably at 
Bentota and Batticaloa could be vastly inipioved 
and yield better and larger supplies if condueied 
on the lines of oyster cultivaiion in Europe. 
Nothing is being done at present in this direction. 
—Galle Cor. 
THE GOLD CO.iST BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 
The oflacial report of the Botanical De- 
partment of the Gold (Joasfc Colony for the 
past year has reached us, and contains some 
interesting information on the work accom- 
plished during the year. The following 
among many economic plants were planted 
cat during the year, Cinnamomum camphora, 
Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Hevea bantharai, 
Landolphia owariensis and Ilex sp. (Paraguay 
tea). The croton flourishes well in the Colony, 
and a sample lot of seed sent to England 
was favourably commented on by an expert, 
and a trial for an American market recom- 
mended. The notes regarding 
WEST AFRICAN RUBBEB 
(Funtumia Elastica) are worth quoting — 
" Fifteen thousand of these plants were planted 
out on the new piece of land acquired by the 
Government, Lines 10 feet apart were cut through 
the bush, in these the plants were planted 10 feet 
apart i.e., about 435 trees to the acre. These are 
growing well and promise to be a great success. 
It is hoped that this experiment on the part of the 
Government will excite the natives' interest in the 
planting of rubber. The plants require very little 
attention when once established. This n>akes the 
industry suitable to the African native, who 
dreads having to keep his land clean after he has 
planted it. These rubber plants are benefited by 
allowing the bush to grow up around them, as they 
grow much quicker in the shade, beside making 
clear trunks, which is very necessary in order to 
carry out the tapping operations. When planted 
in the open without shade they have a tendency to 
become shrubby. The sample of rubber mentioned 
in last year's report, obtained from a tree seven 
years old, has been favourably .r-'ported upon. It 
is quite evident by this that they may be tapped 
at the seventh year." 
The sjunple referred to was submitted to 
Sir Thiselton Dyer at Kew, who stated that 
it was of good quality, but too small a 
sample to submit to a broker for valu- 
ation. We quote further : — 
Abba (Ficus Vogelii).— One hundred and thirty 
of this rubber-producing plant were propagated from 
cuttings and planted out during the year ; it is a 
remarkably fast grower. The cuttings when 
planted vvere 1 foot high, some of them are now 
over 6 feet. The milky juice when properIy„_pre- 
pared is of a very good quality. 
The sample of Gold Coast Tobacco sent home 
was not favourably reported on by experts. 
As regards Cola nut, — 
The seed of this valuable plant is highly 
esteemed by the natives, who say that it enables 
them to go lonn j jurneys without fatigue. It is 
largely used in Europe as a medicinal agent, also 
for mixing wiih cocoa. 
Nine thou'^and of ihese plants were planted out 
on a part of the new land acquired by the Gov- 
ernment, which is situated on the Weitera side 
of the Government Sanatorium at Aburi. 
trees are planted 15 feet apart, that . l ; 
to the acre. 
