The Basic Methods of Pearl Farming: A Layman's Manual - CTSA

Guidelines for keeping pearl oysters on chaplets or in containersGuidelines for keeping pearl oysters onchaplets or in containersFor chaplets:Hang only 10-15 pearl oysters on each chaplet, spacing them about 9 in (20 cm) apart on the chaplet.Although it is common to hang 20 or more pearl oysters on a single chaplet, this makes the chapletlonger, heavier and harder to handle. It may also lead to crowding on the farm, resulting in disease orreduced pearl quality. When tying the chaplets on the main line, leave at least 38 in (1 m) of spacebetween the chaplets. Main lines should be spaced at least 66 ft (20 m) apart on a farm. This spacinghelps to keep the chaplets and lines from getting tangled and prevents crowding.If uing chaplets, you must first clean and then drill the pearl oysters. Use a 1/8-in drill bit to drill a holenear the pointed edge of the shell (the ear) towards the back of the shell. Figure 12 shows an externalview of a pearl oyster indicating the spot for drilling. Be careful not to drill into the meat of the animal.Use a length of 18-gauge stainless steel wire to attach the pearl oyster to the chaplet or 80-lb monofilament(nylon fishing line). When drilling many pearl oysters, it is easiest to mount the drill solidly on atable rather than holding it in your hand.Farms where there is no electricity commonlyuse 12-volt drills powered by car batteries.Chaplets and the lengths of stainless steelwires can be reused many times.Figure 12. Pearl oysters should bedrilled in the “ear”, the corner of theshell opposite the byssal notch takingcare not to drill through the internaltissues. Then the pearl oyster can beattached to the chaplet line using eitherstainless steel wire or monofilament(fishing line).Page 31