Pearl Farm

[asirimarco]

Drove into Guyamas again today and visited the Pearl Farm there - got a tour - interesting - especially since we missed the begining of it and the guide told us to go see the oyster cleaners by ourselves. The great part was we really got lots of information as Bill asked lots of questions and the guys were happy to explain everything to us.l
The floats have nets of oysters attached to them. Part of San Carlos Bay .

2 guys implanting the bead in the oyster - guide is bending over

Oyster is put in a solution of water and chemical that makes it open up

Half of a bead is placed under the lip of the oyster

It will produce a blister pearl

Where the bead goes to get a round pearl

The oysters have to be taken out of water and cleaned off every two months.

Bill talking to the "cleaner guys"

The stuff that has to be cleaned off

The oyster is open - ifyou touch the lip it closes thats just the insides of it

They told us this is a baby oyster

Putting cleaned oysters back in water

The blisters on the shell

Very itneresting - didn't buy any thing but a shell with a blister $5.00 -

[Sparkle]

As always a facinating report and great photos. I've never seen that done.

[Bethers]

Very interesting - great pics, and thank Bill for asking so many questions!

[Nasoosie]

What an interesting thing to learn about.....I've read about cultivated pearls in oysters, but have never seen any pictures of its being done before.

Thanks, Carol, for the pics and the lesson!

[BirdbyBird]

Thank you for thinking of us....better than the Nature Channel

Tina and the furry ones just staying warm tonight

[Cedar518]

Carol, you and Bill are great,... I think I'll re-up my subscription to your travel channel for another year!

[oregontocal]

Very cool! And wonderful pictures.

[retiredhappy]

fascinating!!!!!!

[dcricket]

That was a very interesting little trip -- learn somethin new every day on this forum. Loved it.

[avalen]

thanks for the tour, I'm getting quite an education here.

[NakedPupsAndMe]

I want to renew my subscription to your travel guide too! I love your reports. You & Bill do the coolest stuff.

[snowball]

Went past a vender today that had some cleaned and polished oyster shells out and saw the "blister" or where it was anyway very interesting having read this made it more so!
thanks Carol
Sheila