13. #shellsareclosed,wholeoperationshouldnotgo
beyond 30 minutes because the oyster
cannotsurvivebeyondonehouroftheoperationperiod..
#Nucleatedoysters placed into cages, are suspended
intosea-
waterandthecagesareattachedwithfloatingraftsatadep
thof2-3meters.
#Thesecagesarekeptgenerallyundisturbedinthispos
itionfor3-
6years.Afterwhichtheyarereadyforharvesting.
14. HARVESTINGOFPEARLS
#Oysters are removed from water after completion of 3 years of insertion
ofnucleus.#RemovedfromwaterinthemonthofDecembertoFebruaryandthepearlsaretaken
outbycrushingtheoyster.
#Eachoystercanform3-4pearlsintheir15yearsoflifespan.
15. Compositionofpearl
#Pearls are formed inside the shell
ofcertainmollusks as a defense mechanism
againstapotentiallythreateningirritantsuchasaparasi
teinside the shell, or an attack from
outsidethatinjuresthemantletissue..(TISSUEIMPLA
NT)
#CulturedpearlscanbedistinguishedfromnaturalpearlsbyX-
rayexamination.#Nucleatedculturedpearlsareoften'preformed'ast
heytendtofollowtheshapeoftheimplantedshellbeadnucleus.