National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-05-23
Iearl-Fishing In Vermont.

The pearl producing, fresh water
clam, or muscle, is found in some
Western streams, though few pearls
have yet been discovered in them. II
seems that fresh water peatla ara fonnd
most abundantly in the Winooski river
in Vermont, not far from its source,
and in it's small tributaries. Within n
few years much attention has been
given to hunting them, and vast guam
titles of the molluscs have been des-
troyed by the merciless pearl-hunters,
yet they are still found in great num-
bers.
Pearls are more frequently found in
CLANS that live on stony or gravelly
bottoms, as grain OF sand or pome
small foreign substance that has enter
ed the shell forms the nucleus around
which the layers Of pearl ale made,
taking M unknown number of years to
form even n small pearl. Sometimes
they are taken from river-beds of clay
and mud. 1t is said clans mus. be
seven years old before they begin to
form pearl.
The clans move slowly from place to
place, crawling edgtWise, leaving n
groove-like track. The small end OF
the clam sticks in the bottom of the
stream with the large end out andopen,
out Of this portion of the animal pro-
trudes, but at the least disturbance
wthdraws, and the shell closes so tight
il can not be opened without being cut
ut both ends. When open, the pearl if
any, Is at once seen in the small end,
imbedded in the flap"
The instruments necessary for ''pearl'
hunting" as it is commonly called, are
an iron rod, hattened at one end, with
barbs cut in it to draw out the claims,
handled basket TO carry them in,
a stout knife to open the shells. and a
box of fine cotton in which to put the
pearls.
Sometimes the fisherman wears high
rubber boots, oftener he wades into the
river with bare feet and his breccbes
rolled high, with his basket on arm and
spear in hand. He thrusts his spear
into any open shell he may see on the
bottom, which Immediately closes,
when he pulls it out puts it in his basket,
and looks for another. When satisfied
with the number he has got, he carries
them to the bank, where he sits down
and opens them. The experienced hun
ter can usually tell before opening if
there is pearl inside, as only the de-
formed shells contain one. Often thou
sands of shells are opened and the in
mates destroyed without obtaining a
single pearl of value. Sometimes brown
ish ones, lustreless, and of no value are
found. The white and rose-colored
ones alone have the beautiful light and
desirable lustre.
Probably more depends upon luck
than skill. G. II. Stevens, Esq, of
East Montepelier, is one of the most
successful pearl-fshers of that region,
and the one who some years ago found
the largest pearl that has been dis
covered in the United States. He says:
" The largest pearl / found was in two
feet of water where it ran swift 1t was
in the first shell took out, and [ could
see the place close to it where some one
else had taken out another. The pearl
is of an inch in diameter, round as a
ball, and of fine lustre. 1t is now owned !
by gentleman in New York, who |
values it among the thousands. 1t was
nearly in the middle of the clam by the
hinge, the only one l ever heard of be-
ing found there"
For successful hunting a still day is
necessary, as a small ripple on deep
water will hide the clans. In shallow
water it is not so important.
Upon such a day, during "pearl-
fever" it is not uncommon to see num-
oers of men and boys, and sometimes
standing in the Winooski gath
ring the clans, or seated on the bank
opening them. In warm weather some
lines, such numbers of clans are des,
royed that the air is tainted with their
lecay for a long distance.