176 First Report on Economic Zoology. 
ago, an experimental inquiry into the pearl fisheries of Ceylon, which was 
initiated by Government, ended in failure and disappointment, owing to 
the fact that the matter was entrusted to a gentleman who, though 
acquainted with sea-fishing as a sportsman, had no scientific knowledge 
or training. 
During the past thirty-five years our knowledge of the treatment of 
oysters and similar questions has vastly increased. 
If a naturalist who is really worthy of trust and conversant with the 
subject is sent to Ceylon to study the pearl banks, it is, in my opinion, 
highly probable that the expenditure involved will be amply repaid by the 
results. Such a man could not be obtained for a less payment than one 
thousand pounds a year, exclusive of all expenses ; and it would be 
necessary to employ him for three years at least. 
I am, etc., 
(Signed) E. Ray Lankester. 
Colonial Office, 
Downing Street, 
23 rd August , 1900. 
To The Director, British Museum (Nat. Hist.). 
Sir, — I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge 
the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant and to thank you for your 
advice on the subject of the Pearl Fisheries of Ceylon. 
2. Mr. Chamberlain will communicate with Dr. Herdman and subse- 
quently with the Royal Society, as you suggest. 
3. I am to ask that you will be so good as to return the Reports 
enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 7th instant, as there 
are no other copies of these prints available. The Governor of Ceylon 
has been asked to send further copies, which will be forwarded to you as 
soon as they are received. 
I am, etc., 
(Signed) C. P. Lucas. 
Abstract of Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 
By Sir W. C. Twynam, K.C.M.G. (Colombo, 1899). 
In this long report of sixty-six pages, Sir W. C. Twynam first points 
out the injurious nature of currents and foul water to the pearl oyster. 
For some years the real spat of the pearl oyster does not seem to have 
been known, the spat of other Avicuho being taken for young pearl 
oysters. 
The enemies of the oyster are given, amongst them the following : 
shellfish, the chank of commerce ( Turbimlla pyrum ), the horse and 
elephant chanks ( Pyrula cam aria and Murex regius). 
A small mussel (. Modiola ) known as the Suran spreads a kind of blanket 
over the oysters and suffocates them ; this is, however, rare in the Ceylon 
