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PEARL SOURCES
The chief sources of supply of pearls are the Persian Gulf, Ceylon (off the north coast of Colombo in the Gulf of Manaar, and especially off the Goajira Peninsula),' Australia, Venezuela, Japan, the Red Sea, Panama, and the Pacific Isles. The Persian Gulf fisheries are the most important, and the chief pearl markets in Europe are Paris and London. It is to these cities, and to New York, that most of the fine pearls are sent for sale, although a certain number are sold in India.
In Europe, Paris is the center of the pearl trade, although consignments are still made to London banks and shipping houses from Bombay. The Rue Lafayette in Paris corresponds to Hatton Garden in London, and to Maiden Lane in New York. In these streets, dealers, merchants and brokers in pearls (and diamonds) have their offices, although much business is still done in clubs, cafes, and even in the open street. These traders are of all nationalities, and their activities are often international.
Brokers, who are trusted by merchants to carry and show their goods, obtain offers, and negotiate the complete sale on their behalf, all for a recognized small commission, are now dwindling in numbers. Most have taken to dealing for themselves. Their commission was generally two per cent from the seller and one per cent from the buyer (although only one per cent from each side when loose diamonds changed hands as the result of their introduction and efforts).
The Persian Gulf fisheries yield the best pearls, and these are always called Indian pearls in the trade. Here, the industry has been carried on for many centuries; it was certainly known in the time of Alexander the Great. The species of oysters fished are the margaritifera vulgaris and the margaritifera margaritifera. The oysters occur all along the Arabian coast, but the chief pearl banks are near the island of Bahrein, at the head of the Persian Gulf. This region is an independent Arab state, under British protection. The ruling Sheik makes a profit from the pearling trade, chiefly by lending money at high rates of interest to the divers.
The actual fishing is done by natives during certain months of the year, June to September being the most suitable. The whole fishery is financed by private enterprise, and individual firms supply the boats, tackle, and food. The boats are fairly small, the crew averaging less than a dozen. About 15,000 of the inhabitants of the small islands, of which Bahrein is the center, obtain their living by pearl fishing. During the season, large numbers of divers, known as gavasi, migrate from Persia and the Arabian coasts. As many as 20,000 men are employed in other parts of the Gulf during the fishing season.
The methods used in fishing are simple. When the boat reaches a suitable point on the pearl bank, it is anchored and oars are fixed. The diver uses no suit, but enters the water almost naked. A clip is fixed on the nose, and leather gloves prevent the hands from being cut by sharp edges of shells and rocks. Around the neck, a bag is slung to hold the shells which are collected as quickly as possible from the floor of the sea.
After about ten days of fishing, the shells are taken ashore, where they are auctioned unopened. The buyers then employ experts to open the shells. Any loose pearls, which are often found near the mouth of a shell, are poured into small squares of strong cloth. Further washing of the shells removes all but the blister pearls.
The catch is then sent to Bombay, where the pearls are cleaned, drilled and bleached if necessary, and then sorted. The best grade pearls are called gasandi, and the really fine specimens obtain high prices. The next two qualities are called first and second quality golava.
Diving is an unhealthy occupation, no matter in which sea it is practised. Ear and heart troubles are common ailments of the diver, while scurvy and bites from large fish add to the pleasures of this exciting type of work. No doubt the tavasi (the pearl merchants and others who finance the fishing) reap the most benefit. They, or their representatives, are present both in the Gulf and at Bombay, and business is frequently expedited by the employment of local brokers.