Are poachers kept from the graveyard, or can the ivory still be harvested freely?

they're half fish idiot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathing

Ok I see the hoses now.

An experienced "mermaid" can go up to three minutes without a breath. It's a combination of developing good lung capacity, minimizing movement to reduce oxygen consumption and practicing grabbing a quick breath at the surface or from those hoses they were using to make bubbles.

The "mermaids" are good at incorporating moves into their routines that allow them to get oxygen without breaking their flow or the illusion. It's pretty cool to watch, actually.

they can breathe through their breast-gills

As you've seen, they take puffs off of those hoses now and again, the impressive thing is how they manage their buoyancy, normally scuba divers do this with breaths, but it depends on having a constant supply of air on your back.

Also, ascending while holding your breath can result in a ruptured lung, these women are trained to a much higher degree than their fake tits would lead us to believe.

That's Mermaid Stayce,

seriously

I forgot that, too!

If you were 88 as a child, how old are you now?

Damnit, you beat me to it Kleenex.