The
Panama fisheries differ widely in their character from those of
Venezuela. The mollusk is much larger, averaging about six inches in
diameter when fully grown, thus furnishing a valuable quality of
mother-of-pearl. The shell constitutes the principal object of the
fishery; the pearls themselves are of incidental importance, but are
always looked for and anxiously expected.
The
season extends from May to November, with a rest during the remaining
five months of the year. The fishery is open to natives and to
foreigners alike. While the leading fishermen employ diving-suits,
which were introduced here about 1890, nude diving is yet practised to
a considerable extent, the men descending in eight or ten, and some
even in twelve fathoms of water. There is no restriction whatever on
the nude fishermen, but for each machine diver an annual license fee of
$125 United States currency is exacted.
Owing
to the low market price for Panama shell during recent years, the
fishery has not been vigorously prosecuted, and it has even dwindled to
low proportions. A letter from one of the leading pearling companies
in Panama states that the machine divers number about twenty, while
there are about four hundred nude fishermen; and another firm likewise
prominent, estimates these fishermen at twenty and three hundred
respectively.
Yet
a third pearling company writes that there are fifteen machine divers
and two hundred head divers ; and adds that the small demand for this
quality of mother-of-pearl has made the condition of the industry
about as bad as it could be; many who have capital invested are getting
out of the business, and unless the market improves, the industry may
be abandoned. Probably with the introduction of new capital and methods
in the infant republic, the pearl resources may receive greater
attention and a large development ensue.
The
Panama pearls are of good quality and frequently of large size. In
color they range from white to green and lead-gray, and frequently
greenish black. Valuable pearls are not common, but occasionally the
fisherman is amply rewarded. A letter from the American consul at
Panama states that in 1899 a native boy, fifteen years old, fishing in
shallow water, as much for sport as for profit, found a pearl which he
sold to a local speculator for 4000 silver dollars ($1760) ; this
speculator delivered the same pearl to a dealer in Panama for 10,000
silver dollars ($4400), and an offer of 30,000 francs was refused for
it later in Paris. A pearl worth $2400 was reported as found within
half a mile of the steamship anchorage at Panama. A pearl from a giant
oyster resembling Tridacna, was an absolute egg-shape, pure cocoanut
white, and weighed 169 grains; it was 21 mm. at the longest and 16.5
mm. at the narrowest part. The
