316 OM THE PEARL FISHERY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA. 
siderably.* The following statement, kindly furnished me by a friend who 
resides on the spot, will shew the extent and value of this fishery in the 
year 1831. 
This year two vessels sailed on the Pearl Fishery from the Port of Guaymas, 
and other two from the River Yaqui in its vicinity, as also two boats; the whole 
carried two hundred Busos; the largest vessel had seventy; the next fifty; the 
third thirty ; the fourth also thirty ; and the boats ten each. One vessel brought 
forty ounces of pearls, great and small, which were valued at 6,500 dollars; 
another twenty-one ounces, valued at 3,000 dollars ; another fifteen ounces, 
valued at 1,800 dollars; and the fourth twelve ounces, valued at 2,000 dollars ; 
making the value, exclusive of the two boats, amount to 13,300 dollars, or about 
two thousand six hundred and sixty pounds sterling. 
It has always been the popular opinion among the Spaniards, that there were 
immensely rich banks of Pearl Oysters on the shores of an island near the head 
of the Gulf called Tiburon; but that its inhabitants, who use poisoned arrows, 
were of such a savage disposition, that no one could approach it without being 
sacrificed: this originated in or at least was confirmed by the circumstance of 
some people being killed near it, and in consequence the king of Spain, whose 
laws seemed always to be made on the supposition that none of his subjects had 
the power to risk his own life, or the common sense to judge when it was in 
danger, decreed, that no one should hereafter approach that island for any purpose, 
or on any pretext whatever. This interdict has been to the present time strictly 
obeyed, and although the Mexican Republicans have thrown off the Spanish 
dominion, yet the dominion of early prejudice is not so easily got rid of, and 
consequently the Island of Tiburon is still considered by the Mexican Spaniards 
as rich and perilous as heretofore; although recent visitors, and among others 
Mr. Hardy, have proved the risk and the riches to be equally apocryphal. 
The most remarkable incident in the recent history of the Pearl Fishery of 
California is the fact of an Association having been formed in London in the 
year 1824 or 1825 for the express purpose of prosecuting it, under a new and 
improved system. The new company was termed the “ Pearl and Coral Fishery 
Association ,” and great expectations were entertained from the activity of the 
Director, Lieut. Hardy, R.N., and the use of a diving-bell with which he was 
furnished. The employment of the diving-bell certainly at first sight seems to 
hold out a great prospect of success ; and we learn from Humboldt that long 
before the formation of this Association the same idea was entertained by the 
Mexicans themselves ; and a project of this kind was started in 1803 by an 
Travels in Mexico, p. 238. 
