It
has been decided by naturalists that Ceylon oysters less than four
years old produce very few marketable pearls ; in the fifth, and again
in the sixth year the value of the yield doubles, and in the seventh it
is supposed to increase fourfold. Beyond that age there appears to be
little increase, and there is the risk of the oysters dying, and of the
pearls deteriorating or becoming lost. Eight years seems to be the
natural limit of life. While experience has shown that the most
profitable period for taking the pearl-oysters is when they are from
five to seven years old, the mollusks are liable to disappear,
especially after the fifth year, and the danger of waiting too long is
as great as that of beginning too early. The fishing on any particular
bank is determined by various circumstances and conditions, and is
permitted only after careful examination.
The
different beds are inspected from time to time, and no fishing is
permitted until the condition of the pearl-oysters on the particular
reef thrown open seems to warrant the most valuable returns. In the
examination of a bed apparently in suitable condition, several
thousand oysters—usually eight or ten thousand—are taken up and the
pearls found therein are examined and valued. If they average Rs.25 or
Rs.30 per thousand oysters, profitable results may be expected,
provided there is a sufficient quantity of oysters on the bed. This
method of determining the fishery is very ancient. Tavernier wrote,
about 1650, ''before they fish, they try whether it will turn to any
account by sending seven or eight boats to bring 1000 oysters each,
which they open, and if the oysters per 1000 yield five fanos or above, they then know the fishing will turn to account." 1 And much the same method was described by Ribeiro in 1685.
When
it has been decided to hold a fishery, public notice is given by
advertisement, stating which of the many paars or reefs will be open,
and the estimated quantity of oysters to be removed, the number of
boats that will be given employment, and the date for beginning the
season and the length of time it will probably last. This notice is
usually given in December preceding the fishery, and it is the signal
for preparation by tens of thousands of persons in this part of Asia,
and especially on the Madras and the Malabar coasts of India, and on
the coast of Arabia. The fishermen, the merchants, and the multitude of
artisans, mechanics, and laborers who contribute to the industry, set
their homes and business in order so that they may attend. We give the
notice issued in 1907, both in Cingalese and in English.2
Early
in February the area to be gleaned is again examined, the limits of the
oysters are charted and buoyed off, the number that may be obtained is
estimated as accurately as possible, and valuation
"Tavernier, "Travels in India," Vol. II, ch. 21. 2See pp. no, in.
