174 First Report on Economic Zoology. 
The resume is given in Dr. Morris’s letter, p. 188. The report has three 
appendices : — 
(1) The Fisheries of Barbados, where we learn the approximate income 
is £19,500. 
(2) The Jamaican Fisheries ; an account of the operations in Jamaica 
of the Caribbean Sea Fisheries Development Syndicate, Limited, which 
does not appear to have been financially successful. 
(3) A Report on the Sea-egg Industry of Barbados. 
2. CEYLON PEARL FISHERIES. 
Colonial Office, 
Downing Street, 
1th August , 1900. 
To The Director of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). 
Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to enclose for 
your consideration copies of a special Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries 
and of the last report on the inspection of the pearl banks, which have 
been received from the Governor of that Colony. 
Mr. Chamberlain would be much obliged if you would be good enough 
to advise him on the subject generally, but I am to state that he doubts 
whether the Colonial Government would be well advised to incur any 
considerable expense in the matter, unless it is considered to be of great 
scientific interest, as the local conditions seem to be well known for 
practical purposes. 
The Governor of Ceylon has suggested that the opinions of the Royal 
Society, British Association, and Zoological Society should be invited as 
to whether it is desirable that these fisheries should be inspected by a 
scientific expert, and also that Dr. Herdman, F.R.S., should be consulted, 
but no application has yet been made to these Societies or to Dr. Herdman, 
pending an expression of your opinion. 
I am to add that various prints relating to Pearl Fisheries in Ceylon 
can be seen in the Library of this Office. 
I am, etc., 
(Signed) C. P. Lucas. 
British Museum (Nat. Hist.), 
Cromwell Road, S.W., 
IWi A ' ugust , 1900. 
To The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain. 
Sir, — I have read the Special Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries 
forwarded to me by Mr. Lucas at your request. I am of opinion that the 
recommendations made by Sir W. Twynam are well based and should, so 
far as I am able to judge, be carried into effect. 
The questions connected with the proper management and fishing of 
pearl oyster banks and other similar submarine sources of wealth are 
of great scientific interest, and should, in my opinion, be continually 
investigated and dealt with in the interest of the community. Results 
