|
PEARL FISHERIES
The
catch runs about one million per day. In 1903 forty-four million
oysters were taken, but they realized much less than the catch of 1904,
when the number was not quite twenty-six and three-quarter millions,
though it netted the government $350,000; 1905, however, will be the
record year as it is claimed the profits will reach the large sum of
$830,000. These figures represent the government's share only.
The
price realized at these sales varies not only with the season but from
day to day. Ten to fourteen dollars per thousand is a fair average,
though there are days when as much as twenty-four dollars is realized.
Prices have ranged from $7.50 to $40.00 per thousand in one season. The
net proceeds go to the revenue of Ceylon.
This
has been the system under which the Ceylon fisheries were managed until
lately. For some reason unknown to the public, the government, after a
season of unequalled profit in 1905, leased the fisheries to a company,
the Pearl Fishers of Ceylon (Limited), for a period of twenty years
from January 1, 1906. The company is to pay the government $103,333 per
annum and is to expend annually upon the
227
|
||
|
|
||