PEARLS FROM ASIA 117
how
"the Ceylon pearler went all naked to the hungry shark," and the
struggle of the diver has been a favorite theme with sensational
writers. As a matter of fact, the trouble from this source is very
slight, and the occupation is less dangerous than that of most of the
deep-water fisheries, not to be compared, for instance, with that of
the winter haddock-fishery off the New England coast. Even in 1905,
when 4991 divers and an equal number of assistants were employed in
pearling, not a single fatal accident was reported, and although much
rough weather prevailed, not a fishing boat was lost. In the important
fishery of 1904, with 3049 divers, only one fatal accident occurred,
this was an elderly Moorman, whose death at the bottom was apparently
due either to apoplexy or to exhaustion from remaining under water too
long.
The superintendent of the fishery reported that not a single shark was seen during the 1904 season.1
According to the statement of Sir William Twynam, whose Ceylon pearl
fishing experience and observation equal those of any European, he has
never known of a diver being carried off by a shark, and has heard of
only one case—"which was a very doubtful one."2 Prof. James
Hornell, the inspector of pearl banks, reported in 1904: "During all
the months I have spent upon the pearl banks during the last two years
and a half I have never had a glimpse of a shark dangerous to man.
Several times the boatmen have caught basking sharks of considerable
size, but all were of a species that lives almost entirely upon small
crustaceans."3 The late Mr. A. M. Ferguson wrote in 1887: "I
think it is pretty certain that in the whole course of the Ceylon
fisheries only two human beings have fallen victims to these fierce
fishes."4
The
diving continues until a signal is given from the guard vessel about
twelve or one o'clock, this time depending largely on the beginning of
the sea breeze which roughens the water and interferes with the work,
and likewise serves to speed the passage of the sail vessels to the
shore. Occasionally the breeze is unfavorable, and the boatmen are
obliged to row for miles, delaying their return in some instances until
nightfall. Then the shore is lighted up to guide them to the landings,
and extra precautions are maintained to prevent them from getting away
with some of the oysters in the darkness.
It
is claimed—and doubtless with much truth—that it is not unusual for the
boatmen to take advantage of the time spent in reaching the shore to
surreptitiously open many of the oysters and extract the pearls
therefrom, throwing the refuse back into the sea.. It would ap-
