Only
one pearl of any kind is tound in a hundred shells, and usually one in
a thousand of any value, so that it is not a very profitable pursuit.
The indiscriminate killing off the mussels in fishing and by poisonous
sewage will eventually lead to their extermination. The greatest
destroyers, however, are the hogs, which kill off whole banks in a
single low tide. Pearls are also secreted by the common hard-shell clam
(Venus mercenaria); these are usually white, tinged with purple,
or almost black. The latter colors are preferred, although they have
little value. They sell at from $1 to $100 each, and are found as large as a hazel nut. The common conch (Strombus gigas), fished
extensively on the Florida coast for bait, often contains the
so-called pink pearls. Although they are not true pearls, they have
sold at $1,000 each. Our oyster pearls have neither value not beauty.
"GOLD IN CEYLON," BY AN OLD AUSTRALIAN DIGGER.
To the Editor of the " Ceylon Observer''
20th January 1888.
Dear Sir,—The
many notices we see in the newspapers of finds of gold in so many parts
of the world surely ought to induce those -in power to move in some
manner to develope our own island gold fields. Ceylon Gold fierds you
may think audacious words to use, seeing we have never had any gold,
mining worth the name. Perhaps so, but let me remind you, that gold has
been found in several parts of Ceylon, notably in Sabaragamuwa. That
all the beds of rivers and rivulets about Ratnapura, for miles and
miles are auriferous, si wellknown, whether in payable qualities has
never been proved, because never tried. Is it likely that the beds of
the rivers only are auriferous ? I think there is good reason to
suppose that leads and scattered deposits of gold, might be found all
through the plains for many miles above, below, and to the south • of
Ratnapura, and at depths probably averaging the depths of the beds of
the rivers. That Mr. J. W. Home and Mr. Vfinto worked for a time at the
back of the Ratnapura jail, and barely got gold to cover half their
costs, proves nothing other than that gold was there. An Australian
miner would have considered the prospects ample, to warrant a thorough
trial, besides, I do not suppose that Home and Minto had either mining
experience or proper appliances. Next to auriferous soil, experience is
everything in gold mining. Many years ago Mr. Saunders, when stationed
at Ratnapura, did all he could to have it thoroughly tried, but was
discouraged and defeated by the then Government who feared that gold
mining breaking out, might be too revolutionary and not conducive to
their own ease. A more auspicious time to revive the question could not
be found than the present. We have one of the ablest, wisest,
strongest-minded Governors that ever ruled Ceylon. The Government
Agent, Western Province, and his energetic lieutenant at Ritnapura are
the right men in the right places, to carry out what to many would be
unwelcome innovations. To add to these, we are entering on the dry
season, which ought to be taken advantage of. There is a dark side to
the question—certainly which cannot be ignored—and which makes it
necessary, that Government move first in the matter. The country all
about bears no auriferous appearances. Water below and floods above,
would be to contend with, and much of the land is in private hands. A
sufficient quantity of gold would overcome these difficulties, but they
are too great for private enterprize to begin, and Government ought to
hold out some inducement. You should remind them, that little Victoria
was able to export ico tons of gold annually for many years; that their
gold fields enabled them to give out their first railway contract
£3,000,000, the then largest railway contract in the world's
history.—Yours, A. B. C.
[We want an officer of the Indian Geological Staff to surve Ceylony geologically.—Compilers.]
