Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27

AN INTERESTING BRANCH OF FISHERY.
About twenty years ago pearls were diScov-
cred in the Little Miami river, Warren county,
Ohio, aud since then the search for them has
been one OF the recognized Industries of the
region. The mussels which furnish the pearls
are found In beds anywhere from the banks to
tie middle OF the river and are generally dis
covered by the feet of the pearl fisher. About
fifty men and boys are engaged in this work.
frc4 the knee to the neck. With their feet
they feel the shells, and raise them by their
toes to height where the hands can reach
them without STOPPING so as to bring the head
and floating out, are used to deposit the shells.
When bushel or more have been collected, the
fisher goes to the shore and sitting down on the
grass In some cool shade he opens the shells
With large knife.
The pearls are found between slight men,
brane that lines the shell and the shell 1tself-a
and film of mica. occasionally the pearl Is
mbeded in the shell so firmly that only an ex-
pert lapdary could safely detach it. This is
shell at the Miami fisheries rarely exceeds 8,
and on an average only one shell out Of $50 has
any pearls at all. It is common experience
to br1r g to shore bushels Of shells with never a
Learl. one may work for days with no reverb;
again he may make from S. to 500 In single
day. The uncertainty is probably haif the faSct-
nation Of the work to the peculiar class Of men
and boys who prosecute 1t.
About year ago wealthy banker Of Waynes-
vile, Mr.. Harris, began to purchase the pearls
which had previously been bought by New
since made a large and fine collection. Men,
ton is made OF one fine specimen, the Everhart
pearl, found in the Miami and sold to Me5srs.
Tiffany & Co., In New York, for $500. The Tiff
any ssold it to rty In France for 81 0OO, bought
It back for 81 500 and made final sale Of 1t for
s.. $40.
The season of the pearl fisheries of the Little
Miami lasts only from June till october, as it
is necessarily dependent upon the warmth of
the water. The fisher works about six or seven
Aavy fnfrr
two hours, consecut1vely, in the water. 1t
would seems as II the work would be very IN
healthy, leading to malaria and all its attend
ant train of low fevers and vital exhaustion,
but 1t was not spoken Of particularly in that
way.
There are pearls found In other parts of Ohio,
the calcareous deposit that abounds in Warren
county. The pearls Of the Little Miami region
are OF soft sky blue, pink, golden tinged and
iron color, with specimens that show a pure
ALL The colors, OF course, are not solid, but ex-
quisite tints and shades, changing with the
angle Of refracted light. The size ranges from
Many Of the old Indian mounds that have
been opened contain pearls, showing how an
Gent their existence is. These pearls in the
mounds lie as II they had been strung, but they
Recently pearl Of the most extraordinary
beauty and brilliancy was accidentally found
L. Roberts, little Lad Of II years, the son of
Mr.. j. A. G. Roberts, of the Adams Express
Company, Of Cincinnati. Morton was visiting
some relatives there and went down to get
mussel shells to bordera flower bed for his aunt.
There were q quantity Of these that had been
looked over by fishers and thrown aside, and 1t
was In one of these that the observing eye OF
the little boy detected the gem that promises
to be a very valuable one. 1t is said TO be the
largest pearl ever taken from this region and
perfect I'm its symmetry. 1t has the brilliancy
of the purest and most intense tintS OF the opal
1t seems to rest in an aureoe Of colorS, so deli
cate, yet so glowing, as to suggest to one a
dream of color. The pearl will undoubtedly
prove one Of very rare value. Its weight is six
KaratS.