Ceylon Pearl Fisheries. 205
order
to secure an increase to their yearly revenue, had opened the fishery
before the oysters were of mature age. The result of this short
sightedness was that the Pearls found were of smaller size and less in
number than would probably have been the case had the fishery been
longer delayed. Of this there was unmistakeable proof in the opinion of
. native experts, inasmuch as very many of the shells contained large
unformed Pearls, which, if longer time had been given, would probably
have developed into valuable and perfect gems, but which in their
immature state were useless. Some two or three hundred of these shells
had as many as from twenty to thirty massed together, but most of these
were imperfectly formed and useless for ornamentation.
It
is held by some authorities that when oysters are left in a decaying
condition, the skin of the Pearl is seriously impaired. This is so in
the Australian fisheries, but was certainly not the case in Ceylon, for
experience has shewn that equally good Pearls have been found in the
shells which have been immediately washed while the oyster is alive,
and in those which have been buried for weeks, and generated larvae.
Whilst the early washing of the oysters just described was proceeding, thè four cases already
