Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-11-26
PEARLS AND THE PEARL FISHERY.

Pearl oysters found in various parts Of the world
in Europe in Asia and in America The localities from
which they are procured in the greatest abundance are
the Persian Gulf the shores Of Ceylon and Japan the
Sooloo Archipelago and the Cuffs of Panama and Cali
forna. Those of Panama and California very large
and their shells very thick and beautiful forming wha
is usually termed 'mother Of pearl" considerable
profit has been deyved from carrying these shells from
California to China where they manufactured by the
Chinese into variety Of ornamental and fancy articles
Pearl oysters said TO arrive at perfection in
years. and after attaining this age they die They
usually procured by Divers depths Of from three to
eight fathoms.
Though pearls are peculiar to kind Of oyster
the pearl oysters Of Ceylon all of species and
shape being an imperfect oval about nine and half
inches in circumference The body Of the fish white
and feshy much faer than that of the common oyster
ally rank and unfit for eating In the centre of the pearl
is often found grain of sand other extraneous matter
which may be considered the nucleus Of the formation
thus leading TO the conviction that on the introduction Of
this particle into he body shell Of the oyster IN order
to prevent the disagreeabe effects of friction he
it with successive layers Of the gutnous matter which
constitutes the pearl The Chinese said TO take adj
vantage Of this pecuarity Of action in singular
In the beginning Of SUMNER when the oysters rise to the
surface of the water and open their shells, FIVE six
beads made Of mother Of pearl sometimes thrown into
each Of hem and at the end OF the year. when they
drawn up and opened these found covered with
pearly crust TO have perfect resemblance to the
genuine pearl All round pearls taken from the body
Of the oyster The others found adherng TO the inner
part Of the SHE'LL being Hat on that side which IS attached
to the surface Sometimes between and two hundred
pearls have been found in shell and it frequently hap
pens that three four hundred shells may be opened
without obtaining single pearl The pearls, after being
extracted and cleaned, polished with powte made
Of the pearls themselves They are Of various coors
white brown, and black. They next assorted
into classes according to their size, by being passed
through selves and hen after being drilled and strung
are ready be sent to the different markets IN various
parts Of India, Europe, and America.
The oysters usually adhere to the rocks and to each
other in immense heaps and clusters until age has en-
feebled the bres Of their boards by which they cling
and then age Of probably between six and seven
years breaking from their hold they may be found In
perfection on some sandy bottom their original do
mains The beds of oysters the rocks are said some
times to exceed eighteen inches in thickness Attempts
have been made to transport the pearl oyster to more
northern climate both in Europe and America but inva-
aby without success In the Island Of Ceylon, instead
Of opening the oysters Immediately after they gather
ed they are suffered to remain in heaps the shore until
they have undergone the process Of putrefacton and be-
come dry. Then the pearls be removed with compa-
ratively little difficulty from the she'll Sometimes the
body Of the shis Of brilliant scarlet hue and then the
inside Of the shell possesses the same pecuary Of color
The oyster and particularly the pearl OYSTER IS gene
rally admitted to be something OF philosopher, and
given to habits Of meditation Perhaps IT is So But we
can hardly suppose that he lies quescent beneath the
waves adherng his coral home he ever dreams that
he is constantly engaged in the manufacture OF beautiful
for beings Of another races and that one day
the rude hand ef man will tear him from his native ee-
ment and pull him pieces for the sake OF his beautiful
II Journal.