Jan. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
4G1 
PE.\RL FORMATION. 
MR. HORNELL'S INVESTIGATION. 
Jdffna, Nov. 28.— I had an interview with Mr 
James Homeil, Biolofjist in charge of the Marine 
Laboratory at Galle, this morning at the Jaffna 
Rest-house, and he was Uind enouoh to aive lue 
some particulars concerning his investigations with 
regard to the formation of pearl. The actual and 
immediate cause for the formation of the pearl is 
a tiny parasite which undergoes different stages. 
In its first stage the parasite exists in the water. 
This parasite is eaten by the oyster and, entering 
its stomach, finds its way into its body mixing with 
the blood. The oyster, in turn, is eaten by the 
TRIGGERFISH 
commonly known hjr the name of Kilathi, in 
whose body the parasite attains its third stage. 
These three stages were known previously. Mr 
Hornell's investigations so far have led him to 
believe that the fourth and final stage is attained 
in a kind of fish called in Tamil " Thirukkai" and 
his attention is devoted to the collecting of fi-.rther 
evidence to confirm this belief. It appears that the 
" Thirukkai" fish eats the " Kilathi" (or Trigger) 
and in its bowels the parasite develops into its final 
(fourth) stage. The " Thirukkai" hsh lays eggs 
in the water where they hatch and then a number 
of parasites come into existence. The^e parasites 
are eaten by the oyster, and those that die in its 
stomach produce pearl, Mr Hornell is also on the 
look-out for sea sponges in their living form so as 
to make some observations. With this end in view 
lie may go to the adjoining islands. — Jaffna Cor. 
FURTHER INTERESTING PARTICULARS. 
Trincomalee, Nov. 20th.— Mr. J. Hornell, 
the Marine Biologist of the Galle Laboratory, 
who arrived here some time ago and is 
occupying: the Resthouse, will be leaving 
this for Jaffna and Mannar by the ss. "Lady 
Havelock." He has specially visited here, not 
so much to investigate about sponge culture, 
which perhaps is a future programme, as 
for the solution of the question of the pearl 
oyster destroyers. Among many other 
Marine researches made, he has traced that 
a fish of the Linnoean genus called in Tamil 
"Kitathi ' — a species of Ray, which he 
calls a trigger fish for it is a thorn-back 
und has two trigger-like spinal thorns— is a 
devourer of pearl oysters. The parasitic 
animal, to which this mollusc is a host, when 
eaten by these fishes, grows to an interme- 
diate stage, and, when these fishes are likewise 
attacked and swallowed by large sharks, 
skates, dolphms, and other large fishes, it passes 
into maturity. These parasites are the pro- 
ducers of pearls. It is a mistake, des- 
troying these fishes, for although they may 
destroy oysters yet, but for them, no pearls 
. would be formed, however inucii the oysters 
are preserved. He intends to confirm this 
, theorem by observations at Jaffna and Mannar. 
Specimens of these parasites, gutted from 
. fishes, are beirjg preserved for inspection, 
The " trigger fish " is a flab one of the 
shape of a Flounder or Halibut— with thick, 
rough scales and as Mr. Hornell puts it, fit 
for smoothing purposes. He is of opinion 
that there are abundant pearl oysters in the 
Trincomalee barbouv, but for want of pro- 
tection they are fished for eating by 
the public. He has found 2-yt'ars old 
oysters which prove that the infusion of 
fresh water into the harbour from the Maha- 
weli ganga being said to destroy them, is an 
untenable theory. 
That the orbicular oysters to be found in 
the Bay of Tamplegam, have been overfished, 
and the paucity of these oysters is "due to 
the past renting system, owing to which 
the renters have endeavoured to make the 
best of their opportunity, — Trincomalee Cor, 
— 
THE INDIAN AND THE CEYLON TEA 
PLANTER. 
A CONTRAST. 
A gentleman who has just returned from a tour 
through the Ceylon tea districts has informed us 
that the contrast between the way things are done 
in the Colony and in India is very great, and that 
Indian Planters require rousing up — being, in great 
measure, wanting in the push and go now so charac- 
teristic of their fellow-workers in the Island, It has, 
of course, to be. borne in mind that conditions in 
India and Ceylon are very dilfereut. In India 
political and military interests predominate, and 
industry and trade take a back seat ; in Ceylon 
the vury reverse obtains; conseqaently the 
Government of the Crown Colony fosters industry 
and trade to the utmost in its power, as the wel- 
fare of the Island is wholly clepeudent on its com- 
mercial development. In this country, on the 
other hand, commerce is practically a secondary 
consideration, and agricultural industry does not 
meet with the atte ition on the part of iiie Govern- 
ment which it deserves. Tea in Ceylon is the 
staple product, and the welfare of the industry is 
therefore of supreme importance to the Adminis- 
tration. Under the eircuiustanee?, tea planters, as 
a community, are a power in the land, and hold 
sway in a manner c^uite impossible to their less 
favoured brethren in India, It may, there- 
fore, be urged that, such being the case, a 
too critical comparison is uo5 lair; the 
Island industry having the powerful sup- 
port of the Government which is in full sympathy 
with it, whereas tlie Indian industry is looked 
upon with a jealous eye, instead ot being en- 
couraged and tended with care and has every 
obstacle to progress thrown in its way by an 
unsympathetic executive. Viewed in this light, 
the wonder is, not that the planting community 
in India has done so little, but that it has done 
fco much. The seeming apathy of Indian planters 
is more or less bora ol despair, for do what they 
will to improve their prospects and condition, 
they have to face the tactics of not over-friendly 
Government otlicials, who, instead of helping 
them, more often than not openly oppose and 
hinder them in every way possible. 'lUe Indian 
tea planter meets with discouragement at every 
turn, he is constantly thwarted in his endeavours 
to make headway; it says a great deal for his 
steadfastness that he did not long ago throw 
up the sponge. iiut his indomitable 
pluck and courage — identically the same 
as ihut possessed by iiis brolhei lu Cej iou — Uavtj 
