Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/223

The total annual consumption of fish in the islands approximates half a million long tons. In this industry there are employed, during a part or all of their time, the estimated number of 119,000 persons and 28,000 boats.

Fishing for mother-of-pearl shells, and incidentally for pearls, is carried on to some extent in the waters of the Sulu archipelago. The instruments used in this industry are, for the most part, crude and of small effectiveness, though there are a few shell-fishing outfits equipped with modern diving apparatus—helmet, waterproof suit, pump, etc. The shells are plentiful and valuable, and pearls are frequently found, sometimes very fine ones of high value. The industry is said to be extremely profitable, and is believed to be capable of great enlargement. The investment of comparatively small capital will, it is said, yield large returns under intelligent and businesslike management.

Captain H. R. Hickock, United States Army, the supervisor of census for the district of Siassi, gives the following interesting account of Moro fishing for sharks, sea worms, shells, and pearls in the southern seas:

"All of the Moros are fishermen to a greater or less extent. Shark fishing is done by trolling in deep water with about 40 or 50 feet of line. After a shark is hooked he is first tired out and then drawn up to the boat and killed with a spear. The tails and fins are then cut off and traded to the Chinos, by whom they are then shipped to China.

"The tail and fins of a shark will average about 10 pounds in weight. The Chino traders recognize two grades of this article, for which they pay 45 and 125 pesos respectively per picul of 137 pounds.

"Sea worms, which are muscular, gelatinous animals, living attached to rocks at a depth of water of 6, 8, or 10 feet, are also secured by the Moros and sold to the Chinos, who recognize ten classes, for which they pay from 8 to 80 pesos per picul."

Philippine trade was opened to the world in 1834. The value of imports for 1902 was $33,342,166, of exports $28,671,904. Commerce with foreign countries is carried on mostly in vessels bearing the British and German flags. The number of ports and subports open to commerce has trebled since American occupation began.

The preceding pages give a summary of the more important geographic information contained in the Census Report, being drawn principally from the introduction by General Sanger, and from the chapters on Geography, Population, and Mortality by Mr Henry Gannett.

The report contains two important chapters describing the characteristics of the civilized and non-civilized tribes. Every supervisor was instructed to make special note and record of the customs, character, and life of the people with whom he was brought in contact. The principal parts of these reports are published, supplemented by extracts from the speeches of Governor Taft and travelers in the islands, so that for the first time we have a very complete and comprehensive description of every tribe.

The following chapters also are specially important: The History of the Islands, by a member of the Philippine Commission, T. H. Pardo de Tavera, which is the first good history of the Filipinos that has been written and published in the English language by a Filipino; The Judiciary, by Chief Justice C. S. Arrelano and Assistant Justice Torres; Population, by David P. Bar-