labours,
a chapter is introduced on " Pearling Life at the Present Day." It may
here be mentioned that an important improvement in recent fishing, is
the use of the diving dress ; and as the fishers have to go deeper in
search of shell,—the waters becoming cooler—the employment of the dress
must become more and more extended.
Although
the Pearls and Pearl-shell of the Sooloo seas and the Australian waters
have of late years taken a most important place in commerce, the older
fisheries have by no means been neglected in this volume. The fisheries
off Ceylon, which have been worked more or less interruptedly from time
immemorial, are fully described ; and it is hoped that the experience
of my agent at the last great Ceylon fishery, will add freshness and
life to this chapter. The ancient fisheries in the Persian Gulf and in
the Red Sea, are next noticed, and attention is then directed to the
American fisheries. I expected to receive some original information
respecting the Mexican and Panama fisheries, and the publication of the
work has been consequently delayed, but it is hoped that the
anticipated information may be available if a second edition should be
called for.
Fresh-water Pearls, though of far less importance than marine Pearls, claim a chapter to themselves..
