How Pearl Oysters Are Found.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 185, 6 August 1901, Page 3

How Pearl Oysters Are Found.

A penrl oyster shell is as biff as * u.nner-piate. It lies tipped upon the of the ocean with others Rrowinj: . it. it rests against a si one, «•► iivu«h it hud drifted vA»nx .when »m «;. until it lodged firmly. Knocking ucanibi he stone may have made the irritation ;'n (he i-hell which produced the penrl. Opinions of oxpertß differ. Many think tie penrl the work of a parasite tint ores holes in the ahell and lives in it--he old sheila full of parasites have tire .-.list pearls. . Divers are so careful of the oyster bhtillß that they will not drop them into a bag, but prefer to up to the luaaer with one in each haud aud go doWUHga'ii. Tl.'p lining of the shell is very beauti•ful. It is used for countless ornaments* jtrnong them operas-glasses, table tops, jihl table decorations. Tne making of these is so delicate thit tho shells are sent to Germany and Austria, where the "irt is well known, and there the lining •is carefully removed. The mother-of-pearl is bo valuable it repays the trouble «nd ex peri se of diving for it. A diver gets about ten shillings a pair Tor shells iiued with poarl ; and if be ib an expert ho can gather three hundred pairs a day-. The pearl diver has generally been a dock driver, trained to lay submarine foundations and remove wreckage. Be works in the- dark, and runs no risk* from the hideous deep sea fishes. Hft "walks or runs on the bottom of the sea. His lugger is a two-master or a steaml.oat ihat moves aloim rapidly with the tide, drugging the life arid air lines with n. Tho diver on the bud of the aea or river must keep pace with the luugpr, px-kio" up lite elu-lU as he runß. His rubber suit {lives him speed and he can buMiid .Jong like a rubber bail on lh« Ltd of the water.