Connecticut western news., 1873-05-30
Pearl Fishing in Vermont.

The pearl producing, fresh water clam, or mussel, is found in some Western streams, though few pearls have yet been discovered in them. It seems that fresh-water pearls are found most abundantly in the Winooski river in Vermont, not far from it's source, and in it's small tributaries. Within a | few years much attention has been given to hunting them, and vast quan- 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 a grain of sand or some small foreign substance that has enter ed the shell forms the nucleus around which the layers of pearl are made, taking an unknown number of years to form even 8 small pearl. Sometimes they are taken from river-beds of clay and mud. It is said clans must be seven years old before they begin to form pearl.
 The clans move slowly from place to place, crawling edgewise, leaving 8 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 portion of the animal pro- trudes, but at the least disturbance withdraws, and the shell closes so tight it can not be opened without being cut at both ends. When open, the pearl if any, is at once seen in the small end, imbedded in the "fap."
 Theinstruments necessary for ''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, and 8 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 brooches 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 8 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. c. H. 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. It was in the first shell took out, and I 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. It is now owned by gentleman in New York, who values it among the thousands. It was nearly in the middle of the clam by the hinge, the only one I ever heard of be- ing found there"
 For successful hunting still day is necessary, as small ripple on deep WdGor WILL u1u0 Iu0 CldLlS. LII SlldllOW water it is not so important.
 Upon such 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. troyed that the air is tainted with their dncau for a 1nnn distanoa