Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-22
The ssConch Pearl, ,,

Many people have doubtless frequently seen
and admired the delicately tinted, pink-faced
shells which are extensively used in the United
States for bordering garden walks and other
ornamental purposes. but few probably are
aware that In the conch which forms and In
habits this Shell Is occasionally found very
lonely gem, known to- lapidlrieS as the conch
pearl. When perfect, the pearl is either round
or egg-si aDed and somewhat larger til IN a pa,
VI beautiful rose color and va cred, that is
presenting. when held 10 the light the Shaeay
wavy appearance OF watered silk, 1t is, how
ever. a very rare circumstance TO find pearl
which possesses all tie requirements that con
stitutc perfect gen. and when such does hap
zen. it proves an exceedingly valuable prize to
its fortunate Ituder. A good pearl is very val
liable indeed, some having been sold in Nassau
for no less sum than Jour hundred dollars.
Although MANY OF these pearls are annually OBJ
tailed by the fishermen in the Bahamas. not
more than one in twenty proves to be a really
good gem. and hence probably their high price.
Pink is the most common and only desirable
color, although white. yellow and brown pearls
are occasion ally found Even among the pink
ones there Is usually some defect which mars
their beauty and materially Injuries them; some
are very irregular in shape and covered appar-
emily with knobs or protuberances; Others are
too small. while many lack the watering which
gives them their great value and chief beauty.
The conch abounds in the waters of the Ba-
hamaS, and thousands OF them are annually OBJ
tanned and destroyed for their Shells which
form quite an article of commerce but in not
one conch in thousand is pearl found. When
this is taken into account, and the other fact,
tldG not uOIe IMAM one In twenty OF pearls
found turns out to be perfect, it will at once be
seen that good conch pearl will always be a
rare and costly gem. In fact, their value within
the last few years has almost doubled, and the
demand for them is steadily increasing.
Most of the conch pearls found in the Ba-
hamas are exported to London, where they are
readily sold. A few have been sent to New
York, having been purchased in Nassau by an
agent Of Messrs Tiffany & Co., the well-known
jewellers.
Like everything else that is valuable, the
conch pearl has been initiated, and some OF the
limitations have been sold as the genuine ar
tiele. Many years ago an ingenious American
visited Nassau and conceived the idea of max
ing conch pearls. He succeeded admirably in
cutting out of the pink portion of the shell some
very creditable limitations. To make success
doubly sure, ne procured a number of the live
slell-fish. carefully inserted his spurious pearls
In the position in which the genuine pearls is
usually found, and placed the fish In an en-
closed place in the water. At the expiration of
month or more, the fish were again removed
and, of course. pearls found in them, several OF
which were sold to inexperienced persons before
the fraud was detected. 1t was detected, how
ever, and the perpetratOr received prompt and
deserved puniShment.-[S Scientific A American,