This morning Mike politely asked if I would mind rescheduling today's bonefishing because of his preoccupation with harvesting pearls from some 800 oysters. His guides were also tied up with this activity. Although I was anxious to fish, and not allowed by local law to fish by myself, I acquiesced and decided to learn all I wanted to know about pearl farming. This was not difficult, not because there is not great deal to know in this rather technically complex and high risk type of venture, but because of my lack of interest. In fact I was more interested in knowing how the oyster meat would taste if properly prepared.

All the pearls harvested were of rather low value, as expected, because of conditions present when the oysters were seeded. This was actually part of the process of shutting down the farm. Mike reports having spent millions of dollars over the past 10 years with only marginal success in the business. Farms throughout the Cook Islands are closing. It seems only the Tahitians are sufficiently organized, technically advanced and financed to have a prosperous industry.

Tomorrow I hope to bonefish.