From The Hindu, April 23, 1925: Ceylon Pearl fisheries

Ootacamund, April 22: It is understood that the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries this year were a failure on the whole by reason of the fact that the great majority of oysters dived and brought out were immature, but from the Ceylon Government’s point of view they were not a financial failure, on account of keen competition between the Indian merchants to try their luck as much as possible, as they were investing large sums in the purchase of oysters. Sanitary arrangements at the camp were very excellent and the authorities generally were extremely helpful to all the Indians, whether they were merchants, divers or scavengers.