Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-27
PEARLS.
Their OIisin and the Way in which They
Are Gathersd-An Important Scotch In



Their O,ipin and the Why in which They
Are Gathersd-An Important Scotch In
dustry.
London Standard
The pearl is so associated with the Orient
that II sounds like geographical blunder
10 read that the Tay pearl fisheries have
orened with unusual prospects OF success.
Yet the theme Of so many poets and the
object Of so much extravaganza has per-
hsps been almost as long sought for IN The
Scottish rivers as IN the remoter seas OF tho
east. Great Britain was at one time cello
bratcd Tor IFS pearls, and we have the au-
thority OF Suctonius for affirming that 1t
was the reputation OF our islands FOR the
possession OF these treasures that stimu-
lated Caesar TO undertake the most famous
invasion Of which history has preserved
any record. We are told that after he con-
quered England be presented as thank
Offering TO Venus GenetriX a buckler COW
cred With pearls, which was hung MP in her
temple. Whether these were actually oh.
tanned from Britain cannot now be de-
cidcd: but there Is 10 doubt that, though
Pliny refers in disparagng terms to the
small size and poor water Of tie northern
were clad 10 barter the sIoils OF
many a plundered kingdom for the
ornaments which in more modern
times have fallen into such dis
repute. Al no time, however, during
at least eighteen hundred years have British
pearls altogether ceased TO be among the
commodities Of commerce. Specimens are
said TO exist among the Scottish crown
Jewels. and one from the Conway. pre-
sented by Sir Richard Wynn 10 the Queen
81 Oh: fles H.. ranks as an ornament OF the
British crown. In our day large numbers
have been purchased by the Queen and the
Empress OF the French, and the Weather
Of the Scottish lsdlcs have always set the
fashion Of encouraging the trade by wear
ing bracelets, necklaces, aud rings set with
native pearls, and-sincs the Lead hills and
the Strath Of Kildonan still Weld the pre-
ciOus metal-.et il gold which has never
crossed the sea.
The pearl OF the fresh-water mussel is
found in almost every river where the moi
lusk in question can prosper, though natu-
rally, sullen streams, with many undis-
turbed pools and muddy bottoms, are most
favorable 10 their growth. Hence We have
pearls from Norway and Sweden, from the
rivers Of Tyrone aud Donegal, and from
many OF the streams OF the northwest OF
England and Wales. Very fine specimens
also come from Moldau aud Wottawa, in
Bohems, and for ages fresh.water pearl
fishery has enlisted in the Iltz, in Bavaria,
from which at times valuable specimens
reach the continental jewellers.
Ii Is, however, mainly In Scotland that
the business is followed with anything like
tystem. For ages the Tay, Doom, Don.
1'eith, Forth. Ythan, Spey, Ugie, and Earn
have proved more or less fruitful, the dull
seasons beng compensated for by those in
which gem Of more than ordinary value
has been fshed up. In all these rivers.
and in some OF smaller importance, few
people-generally cid men, women, and
children are engaged during the summer
months I'm searching for the mussels,
buoyed up by hope OF finding in one out
Of fifty or sixty the object they are eager
TO obtain. Indeed, ever since Mr.. Ungcr
impaired q stimulus to the business, some
OF The smaller streams have been so over
fished as TO render the labor OF searching
the mud scarcely remunerauve. In the
river Earn, 4 tributary TO the Tay, in some
rarts Of the Tay itself, and In the Doom, 1t
Is, however, still worth following, mussel-
gathering being among certain families not
only trade, but their sole means OF liyeli-
hood.
A more agreeable pursuit OF the manual
order can scarcely be imagined. 80 long as
the days are long, and the sun Is warn, and
the shady river lovely with the outrageous
foliage OF midsummer and early autumn.
Pesrl-fshing in Scotland has. moreover.
much Of the gambling excitement attend
ant on the pearl-diving OF the East, without
the injury TO health and the imminent dan
q Iel,o
parlous emotion 10 that fearfully suicidal
calling as prscticed off the coast OF Ceylon,
in the Persian Gulf aud in the Bay OF Pa
mama. AS followed in the Earn OF the
Doom, il is in point OF fact as pleasant rs
trout-1shing during q hot day, infinitely
more profitable in the worst OF times, and
10 the hardy folks OF the north, accustomed
TO rough weather, bare feet, and mountain
streams having their legs, scarcely SO risky
10 the constitution as landing salmon is TO
the well-coddled citizen who is afraid OF the
wind blowing on him for eleven months in
the year, and passes the twelfth wading in
the icy ilyers north OF the Tweed. PEARL
fishing Is, moreover, a profession which re-
quires no apprenticeship. Like reading
and writing 10 Dogberry, ii "comss OF na-
ture " TO the humble hunters after fortune
who have made Unto collecting their
own. The art is simplicity Itself. Eab-
crate apparatus is not demanded; all
the skill necessary may be acquired
in an hour; aud experience avails
little where there are no rules and
scarcely any dogma to guide the manipula-
tor. al that il required Is TO search for
the mrssels nesting in the mud and sand,
seize them by the hand II the water is not
deep, OF, II beyond reach, insert long
stick between their gaping valves, and
then, when the shell closes, lift the obs.i-
nate mollusk TO the surface; or, some.
times, should there be a considerable num-
Der collected on one spot, by simply draw.
ing split-ended pole among them. and
taking the chance OF one being wedged
into this rudely-lmproyised trap. II Is,
however, rare 10 lind many together. They
must be sought for in ones and twos, and
then tossed ashore, until heap worth
opening Is accumulated,
There is, OF course, no calculating when
q mussel will or will not contain pearl,
or when tie pearl will be OF sufficient
value to return fair days wages FOR what
the gem-seeker considers fair days work.
About one In fifty or sixty 10 saidto reward
the toiler; but, as rule. the pearls are
small, dark. and are only "seed pearls"
which fetch a low price ia the market,
where they are bought chiefly for the pur-
pose OF placing at the back or other con-
cealed part OF Orient pearl ornaments.
Some OF the better specimens will, how
ever. bring from G5 TO Goethe latter pos
sessing pleasing pink hue, which Is
permanent. Necklaces composed OF this |
valued variety may now and then |
be seen IN the Jewellers shops OF
Edinburgh and Glasgow. priced at
from E300 10 G4o0. One pearl In every |
fourteenth or fifteenth shell is commonly
said 10 return profit, and II is affirmed
that those from shingly beds. or from the
vicinity Of fords where the sand Is occa-
sionelly disturbed by horses or cattle boots.