The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-07
THE TRADE IN SEA SHELLS.
A PECULIAR BUSINESS Oh THE Pa
CITIC SLOPE.
Where the Shells Come From and
Who Il Largest Buyers Arc
SOmc Valuable Shells.

nero Inc SlcllS COM1c EEolA dlu
WHO the Largest Buyers Arc
Somc Valuable Shells.
The sea shell business of California,
says the San Francisco Bulletin, is but
little known to the general public. In
fact, aside from those actually engaged
in the traffic, but few persons know any
thing of its magnitude or minutiT. Los
Angeles is the center of this trade. The
Pacific coast and coast islands, from
Monterey, in California, to Acapulco, in
Mexico. with contributions from China,
Japan and the South seas, furnish the
product, and Europe is the market.
France is the largest buyer, and next in
the order named follow Germany, Bel.
GUM, Holland and England. The pro-
duct consists of mother-o pearl, pearl
oyster, brilliant or curious shells from
Japan, China and the South seas, the
several varieties of aLalone, and q cor
Geological medley known in business
p%arlance as ''small shells"
Small shells command from $50to $40
per hundred pounds, and are found along
the shores of the South coast and on the
outlying islands. They reach California
in sacks, and in sacks they arc shipped
to Europe, where they arc used in The
manufacture of many various and olna-
mental things.
The mother. of.pearl, known to the
trade rs "the Tahiti SHE'LL" is the most
valuable of all shells. 1t is cxquisitely
beautiful, five to eight inches in diane
ter. round and flat, and overlaid with a
tender, milk.whitc, cleaning surface
that Immediately challenges admiration.
Specimens of ''thc Tahiti shell" may be
seen in some of the art windows of this
city and New York. They are usually
displayed with a sunburst. sunset, or
landscape painted on them, but the finest
and most perfect shells find their way to
Europe. .
Mothcr-of-pear shells are found around
ard off the island of Tahiti. They are
deep water shells; native divers raise
them to the surface, and they are brought
to California by traders, who procure
them IN barter. The divers Of Tahiti
display great daring and fortitudc, and
many tales are told of the fcats they per-
form and the dangers they encounter.
Tales arc told Of divers who never re-
turned, and who are supposed to have
been devourcd by marine monsters or
lost or cntangled in the labyrinthian
windings of coral caves.
Tahiti shells arc worth in lump, whole
sale $1.5O to 81 each, and the finest Sc
lected shells arc valued at $50 per pair.
In America Tahiti shells arc marketed
solely rs articles Of virtu, bric-a-brac and
curios. In Europe, hdwever, they find
additional use and value in the manu-
facture of rare and elegant articles Of
fancy, fashion, toilet and jewelry, and
in the creation of the most costly and
artistic inlaid work. Thus metamor-
phosed, the shells of the ocean find their
way back to America. form a distinct
trade, command fabulous prices, and be-
come the special prey Of the tariff
demon.
Pearl oyster shells are next in value
and importance. They are found along
the Mexican coast, and their gathering
and shipment form quite m industry at
La Pax. The pearl oyster is never larger
than an eastern "middling," but differs
very %pcrccptibly in its conformation. 1t
is t1atter and more regular, and rows Of
ray-like grooves radiatc from the thicker
portion. These shells are used in the
manufacture of pearl buttons, a trade
confined exclusively to France. The
value of the pearl oyster depends upon the
vagarics Of fashion. Of abalonc shells
there ale three distinct varieties known
to commcrce-the blue-grecn of Mexico,
the black of California, and the gray
abalonc common to the whole coast. OF
these the Mexican variety is the most
valuable. 1t is found clinging to the
cliffs. reefs, and submarine rocks through
out the coast of Mexico from San Tomas,
close to the American line, as far south
as Acapulco. Blue-grccn abaloncs are
gathered by mcstizos and brought to
Wilmington (San Pedro by traders and
fisherman. The Mexican abalone APP
proximates in value the shells of Tahiti.
They arc shipped to the same markets
and are used in the same industries.
The black abalonc Of California Is the
next most desirable of sea shells. To
some minds it is the richest and most
gorgeous of ell the shells of the sea. 1t
is of a fine velvety black, and possesses
the same soft glimmering luster that
distinguishes the mother Of pearl, and
sometimes is found varicgatcd by lines
and bars, the most delicate imaginable,
the bars seeming to float in the mellow
prism of colors-brown, azure, saffron
and maroon shot by an indescribable
golden scarlet. This shell is used in the
same industries as the two before men,
toned varieties, and is worth, wholesale,
ST. 900 per ton. The common gray aba
lone has q market value of 500 per ton.
1t is used in bordering and varying in
laid work, in the mounting of costly
furniture aud harness, and in the manu-
facturc of knife handles, shawl clasps
and brooches. 1t is also used by silver
smiths and upholstcrers, and enters into
the makeup of numberlcss articles of
use and ornament.
The shells are stored at San Diego,
San Pedro, Los Angeles and Santa Bar
bara, and are shipped rs the trade de-
mands. AL shipments arc for Europe,
and mainly to France.
Though so little is known to the pub
lie, the sea shell business of California
has already assumed large proportions.
Its annual value runs into the hundreds
of thousands. Forty tons of shells are
shipped every sixty days by the Los An
gelcs firm, a three years. contract to that
effect having been made with a Paris
manufacturing company in 1882.
Eclipses OF the Sun.