ABSTRACT
The finest pearls in the world come without doubt from the Persian Gulf, and roughly some five thousand sailing boats are employed annually in the quest of the pearl oyster. The official pearl diving season, known as the Ghaus, lasts approximately from 15th May to 15th September, though there is an amateur season of three weeks to a month immediately before and after the official season, known locally as the Khanchiyah and Raddah respectively.
