Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-22

Feculiar Business That Pays the Pa
cific SlOue Well

ciac slope Well.
The sea shell business Of California SAYS the
San Francisco Bulletin, is but little known 70
we general public. In fact, aside nom those
se'ueiiy engaged in the traffic. but few persons
Hhow anything Of its magnitude or minutie.
ns's angeles is the center OF this trade. The
"S VI coast and coast islands, from Monterey,
Saiiiornia, TO Acapulco. In Mexico, with con-
'Tioutons from China. Japan and the south
seas, furnish the product and Europe ID the
.nslket France is the largest buyer, and next
~ inc order named follow Germany, Belgium,
noiiand and England. The product consists OF
.lous shells from Japan, China and the south
eo.e, tne several varieties OF abalone, and Q
snce al medley known in business par
:. small shells command nom $50 to $40 per
u3n1red pounds. and are found along the shores
Tl the south coast and on the outlying islands.
lucy reach California In sacks, and In sacks
uney are shipped to Europe, where they are
used In the manufacture Of many various and
The mother-ofpeari, known to the trade a.
"the Tahiti SHE'LL" il the most valuable Of all
shells. 1t is exquisitely beautiful, five to eight
laid with tender, miIk-white, cleaning sur
lace that Immediately challenges admiration.
Specimens of"the Tahiti shell" may be seen In
York. They are usually displayed with a sun.
burst, sunset, or landscape painted on them,
out tne nnest ana most perfect shells nnd
THEIR WAY 10 EUROPE.
Mother-of-pearl shells are found around and
of the Island Of Tahiti. They are deep-water
shells; native divers raise them to the surfnce,
and they are brought to California by traders,
VINO procure them In barter. The divers OF
TAHITI display great daring and fortitude, and
many tales are Told OF the feats they perform
anu the dangers they encounter. Tales are told
Oh divers who never returned, and who are sup
posed to have been devoured by marine mon
"a al nj IN To-
wlndings OF coral caves.
Tahiti shells are worth In lump. wholesale,
SloO TO "a each, and the finest selected shells
are valued at $50 per pair. In America Tahiti
shells are marketed solely as articles OF virtu
nrlc-a.brac and curios. In Europe, however,
iacture OF rare and elegant articles OF fancy,
fashion, toilet and jewelry, and I'm the creation
oil me most costly and artistic iniaid work.
mus metanorphosed, the shells OF the ocean
md their way back to America, form a distinct
trade, command fabulous prices, and become
the special prey OF the tariff depon.
Pearl oyster shells are next I'm value and i'm.
portance. they are found along the Mexican
coast, and their gathering and shipment form
Sunee an INDUSTRY at La Pax The pearl oyster
qluers very perceptibly in its conformation.
IL Is natter and more regular, and rows OF ray.
These shells are used in the manufacture OF
pearl buttons trade confined almost exclu.
sively to France. The
VALUE OF THE PEARL OYSTER
depends upon the vagaries OF fashion. OF
aoaione shells there are three distinct varieties
known to commerce-the blue-green Of Mexico
the black OF California, and the gray abalone
common to the whole coast. OF these the Mex
lean variety Is the most valuable. II is found
clinging TO the cliffs, reefs, and submarine
rocks throughout the coast of Mexico from san
Tomas close to the American line, as far south
as Acapulco. Blue-green abalones are gathered
6y mestizos and brought to Wilmington (San
PEDRO by traders and fishermen. The Mexican
abaione approKimates in value the shells OF
Tahiti. They are shipped to the same markets
ana are used in the same industries.
The black abalone OF California is the mex,
most desirable of sea shells. To some minds II
is the richest and most gorgeous of all the shells
OF the sea- 1t Is of fine velvety black, and
possesses the same soft glimmering lustre that
distinguishes the mother-ofpearl, and some
times is found variegated by lines and bars the
most delicate imaginable, the bars seeming to
noat In the mellowing prism OF colors-brown
azure, sanron and maroon shot by an indie.
scr1baole golden scarlet This shell Is used in
the same industries As the two before mentioned
varieties. and Is worth, wholesale.
$1,000 PER TON.
The common gray abalone has market value
OF 500 per ton. 1t is used in bordering and
varying in,aid work, in the mounting OF costly
furniture and harness and in the manufacture
OF knife-ha ndleS, sha wl-clasps and brooches II
rs also used by silversmiths and upLolsterers
Giles OF use and ornament
The shells are stored at San Diego San Pedro
Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and are
snlpped as the trade demands. All shipments
are ior Europe, and mainly to France
Ihougn so little Is known to the public the
sea-shell business OF California has already as.
sumed large proportions. Its annual value runs
shells Ire shipped every sixty DAYS by The Los
Angeles firm, three years contract TO that
erect having been made with Paris manufac.