Hand tools used for removing, grading and sizing cultured pearls.

Hanging nets with pearl oysters used in culture in Japan.

Types of hanging nets used in pearl culture in Japan.

Display of handtools and sorting machine used in pearl culture in Japan at Toba Pearl Island where the first pearl culture in the world was developed here by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1893.

Close-up photo of large cultured pearl still in oyster shell.

Ama woman dives into the sea for the cultured pearls at Toba Pearl Island. Other more efficient methods are now used in Japan for retrieving pearls.

Ama womdn dives into the sea for the cultured pearls at Toba Pearl Island. Other more efficient methods are now used in Japan for retrieving pearls.

Ama woman demonstrates how pearl oysters are carried back to the boat.

Uni-directional drill used for drilling holes in cultured pearls for stringing.

Machine used for holding a cultured pearl in preparation for jewelry making.

Equipment for measuring pearls. Japan uses a unique unit of measure which has stood the test of time. A pearl is sized in metrics but the necklace is measured in inches.

Metal tips used in holding a cultured pearl when making jewelry.

Examples of various sized sieves used in screening pearls for sizing and sorting

Examples of nulon, tettron, and silk threads used in the stringing of pearls. Needles for stringing are on the left.

The slotted board used for stringing cultured pearls and measuring the length of the necklace or bracelet.

Strings of cultured pearls ready for export outside of Japan.

Depuration process for food oysters used in Japanese oyster processing plant. Sato Oyster Culture Company Oysters need only 12 to 24 hours for depuration with this process.

Depuration process for food oysters used in Japanese oyster processing plant. Sato Oyster Culture Company Oysters need only 12 to 24 hours for depuration with this process.

Depuration process for food oysters used in Japanese oyster processing plant. Oyster washing machine.

Depuration process for food oysters used in Japanese oyster processing plant. Oyster washing machine.

Cultured scallops at the Sato Oyster Culture Company. Scallops are selectively cultured for their color.

Samples of cultured Crassostrea gigas showing excetional quality. Matoya oysters are prized for live sales and raw half shell consumption.

Density Current Generating System owned by the Fisheries Cooperative Association. This generator takes in dense water from the bottom and mixes it with less dense surface water to create a density current horizontally.

Close up view of density current generating system. This generator takes in dense water from the bottom and mixes it with less dense surface water to create a density current horizontally.

Cultured clams bagged and ready for the Japanese market.

Harvested clams being aerated prior to going to market.

Boats which offload oysters outside the Sato Oyster Culture Company.

Assorted shellfish, finfish and crabs at a Japanese market.

Raft oyster culture in Matoya Bay Japan.

Diagram of Density Current Generating System owned by the Fisheries Cooperative This generator takes in dense water from the bottom and mixes it with less dense surface water to create a density current horizontally.

Equipment used in the depuration of Crassostrea gigas oyster culture at Sato Oyster Culture Company.

Fisheries cooperative members shucking oysters before placing in the continuous washer. Matoya oysters are prized for live sales and raw half shell consumption.

Fisheries cooperative members shucking oysters before placing in the continuous washer. Matoya oysters are prized for live sales and raw half shell consumption.

Equipment used in the depuration of Crassostrea gigas oyster culture at Sato Oyster Culture Company.

Depuration process for food oysters used in Japanese oyster processing plant. Oyster washing machine. Oysters need only 12 to 24 hours for depuration with this process.

Depuration process for food oysters used in Japanese oyster processing plant. Oyster washing machine.

View of turtle growout ponds at the Hattori-Nakamura soft-sheled turtle farm.

View of growout ponds at the Hattori-Nakamura soft-shelled turtle farm.

Algae covered ponds for growout of turtle at the Hattori-Nakamura soft-shelled turtle farm in Japan. Enclosed area is used for feeding.

United States and Japanese researchers view juvenile turtles and jars of turtle eggs as Mr. Hattori discusses his turtle farm.

Mr. Hattori (left) and Dr. Seki (UJNR) discuss turtle farm procedures at the Hattori-Nakamura Soft-shelled Turtle Farm.

Mr. Hattori (left) and Dr. Seki (UJNR) discuss turtle farm procedures at the Hattori-Nakamura Soft-shelled Turtle Farm as NOAA staff look on.

Dr. Yarish University of Connecticut discussing with Dr Roger Newell University of Maryland at the Hattori-Nakamura Soft-shelled Turtle Farm.

Rare soft-shelled albino turtle at the Hattori-Nakamura soft shelled turtle farm

Rare Soft-shelled albino turtle at the Hattori-Nakamura soft shelled turtle farm Head and front leg are above water line.

Mr. Hattori holding (carefully) the snapping turtle from his soft-shelled turtle farm.

Dr. Nakamura observing the aggressive behavior of soft-shelled turtle held by Mr. Hattori, turtle farm owner.

Algae covered ponds for growout of turtle at the Hattori-Nakamura soft-shelled turtle farm in Japan. Enclosed area is used for feeding.

Water shed area used for drainage of soft-shelled turtle farm ponds.

Soft-shelled turtle farm ponds in foreground and broodstock building in background . The Hattori-Nakamura Soft-Shelled Turtle Farm.