The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-06-14

The pearl-producine, iresh.waser cla,s
Or muasel, Is found IN some Western
streams, though few pearls have yet been
discovered in them. II seems that fresh
water pearls are found most nbundantly II
the Winooski river in Vermont not fap
from lis source, and in IFS small tributa-
ries. Within few years much attention
has been given to hunting them. and vast
quantities Of the molluscs have been des.
troyed by the nerciless pearl hunters. vet
they are still found ia great numbers.
Pearls are more frequently found in
CLAIMS that live on stony or grayelly bot
toms, as q graiM Of sand or some small
foreign substance that has entered the
shell forms the nucleus around which the
layers Of pearl are made, taking an IN
known number of years TO form even A
small pearl. Sometimes they are taken
from riyer-beds Of clay and mud. II i
said clans must be seven years old before
they begin 10 form pearl.
The claims move slowly from place 10
place, crawling edgewise, leaving a groove
like track. The small end of the clam
sticks in the bottom Of the stream with
the large end out and open, out of this d
portion Of the animal protrudes, but AZ the
least disturbance withdraws, and the she'll
closes 50 tight il can not be opened with
out being cut at both ends. When open.
the pearl il any, is at once seen in the
small end, imbedded in the ahap.''
The instruments necessary for s.pearl-
hunting as it is commonly called. are an
iron rod, fattened at one end, with barbs
cut in it to draw out the clans, handled
basket to carry them in, stout knife to
open the shells, aud 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 breeches
rolled high, with his basket on arm and
spear in hand. He thrusfs his spear into
any open shell he may see on the bottom.
which Immediately closes, when he pulls
It out, puts 1t in his basket, and looks for
another When satisfied with the number
ne has got, be carries them to the bank.
where he sits down and opens them. The
experienced hunter can usually tell before
opening if there is pearl inside, as only
the deformed shells contain one. Often
thousands Of shells are opened and the IN
mates destroyed without obtaining single
pearl of value. Sometimes brownish 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. c. III. Stevens, Esq, of East Mont
pelier, 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 discovered in the United
States. He says. ''The largest pearl |
found was in two feet of water where il
ran swift. 1t was in the first shell / took
out, and could see the place close to il
where some one else had taken out another.
The PEARLS { of an inch in diameter. round
as ball, and of fine lustre. Il Is now
owned by gentleman in New York, who
values it among the thousands. Il was
nearly in the middle Of the clam by the
hinge, the only one ever heard Of being
found there"
For successful hunting a still day is
necessary, as small ripple on deep water
will hide the clans. In shallow water it
is not so important.
Upon such aday, during ''pearl-feyer,7
1t is not uncommon to see numbers of
men and boys, and sometimes women,
standing in the Winooski gathering the
clans, or seated on the bank openingfhem.
In warm weather sometimes, such num-
bers Of clans are destroyed that the air is
tainted with their decay for long distance.