The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-26
pearl.Fl,hlnv IN Vermont.

The pearl -pf0ducingI fresh water
clam, or muscle, Is fOtihd Id some
Western streams, though few pearls
have vet been discovered in them. II
SEEMS that ffesh-Water PEARLS are found
most abundantly in the Winoo5ki river
in Vermont, not far from its source,
and in its small tributaries. Within n
few years. much attention has been
Efteti to hunting them, and yast guam
titles OF the mollisGs have been des-
troyed by the merciless pearl.htiuters,
YET they are still found in great NUM-
Pc, Pearls aro more fieqas6tly ioHnd in
CLANS that live on stony or grdselly
bottoms, MS grain Of sand or some
small foreign substance that has enter
ed the shell forms tho nucleus around
which tho layers Of pearl are made,
taking 9h unknown ntimber ol years to
form even, n small pearl: Sometimes
they ate taken from riter.beds OF clay
and mud, 1t is said Glaihs must be
seven years old before they begih to
form pearl: =.
Inc blnIHH move slowly ltOHl piuCe W
place, crawling edgeEiSe, leaving q
groove.like track. Tho 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
withdraws, and the shell closes 50 tight
it can not be opened without being cut
at both eiids. When open, the pearl il
any, Is at ohie seen H. tile small end,
imbedded in the clap"
Theihsttuments necessary for "pearl-
hunting" as il is GomHonly called, are
mn iron rod, dattotled ~ ono end, with
barbs cut in II to draw out the ciaitns,
handled basket to carry them in,
n stout knife to open tho shells, and n
box of fine cotton in which to put the
pearls.
Sometimes the fisherman wears high
rubber boots, ofteuCr he yales into the
river with bare feet and hid breaches
rolled high, with his basket on rmand
spear in hand. He thrusts his spear
into any open shell llO may see on the
bottom, which Immediately closes,
whonh pulls ii out, putsit in his basket,
and looks for another When satisfied
with the number ho las got, he carries
them to the bank, where he sits down
and opens them. The experienced hun.
ter can usually tell before opening il
there is n pearl inside, rs only tho de-
formed shells contain ono. Often thou
sands of shells arc opened and the in
mites destroyed without obtaining a
single penrl OF value. Sometimes brown
ish ones, luStreless, and ofnO yHlue are
found. The white and rose.colored
ones alone have the beautiful light and
desirable lustro.
Probably moro depends upon luck
than skill. O. II. Stevens, Esq, Of
East Montepelier, is one Of the most
successful pearl-fshers Of that region,
and the ono who some years ago found
the largest pearl TINT has been dis.
covered in the United States. He says
"The largest pearl found was in two
feet Of water where II ran swift. 1t was
in the first shell l took ont, aud [ could
SEQ the place close to it where some one
else had taken out another. The pearl
is Of m inch in diameter, round rs o
ball, and Of fine lustre. It is now owned
by n gentleman in Now York, who
values 1t among the thousands. It was
nearly in the middle Of the clam by the
hinge, the only one 1 ever heard Of be-
ing found there"
For successful hunting a still day is
necessary, MS a small ripple Oh deep
water will hide the clans. In shallow
water it Is not SO important.
Upon such n day, during "pearl'
fever" it Is not uncommon to see num-
bers OF men and boys, and sometimes
women, standing in the Winooski gath
ering the clans, or seated on the bank
opening them. In warm weather some
times, such numbers OF clans are des
troyGd that the air is tainted with theil
decay for long distance.