Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-10
AMONG THE PEARL DIVERS.
Fishing for Pearls In the gull of Cali
fOrnia

uAhs 1n6 plOut VI tuO AohSAASoi say 80 - |
is by no means limited to the pearl fish |
cries. The shells are also coveted, the
poorest selling upon the spot for from
eight to twelve cents per pound, while
in Europe, where the lining Of the shells
Is worked into buttons and knife han
dies, they bring from twenty to thirty
cents per pound. Many of the larger
shells are shipped to San Francisco,
where, as mother-of-pearl, they find
ready sale at from S1.50 to S. per pound.
For centuries the gulf coast has been
noted for its Genealogical beauties, but
the shells of the pearl fisheries are most
highly priced, some of them being fully
fifteen inches wide, and maryelously
beautiful when polished. One may find
them for sale in the San Francisco shops
for fabulous prices, with birds, flowers,
or landscapes deliberately carved upon
them.
The meat of the pearl oysters, though
unstable in the American market, Is also
made source of profit, being readily
bought by Cinnamon, who dry the leath-
cry little bivalves, or seal them up in
cans and ship them to their brethren in
China or San Francisco. Those scions
of the flowery kingdom, who reside in
great numbers around the gulf, are never
employed as divers, but are engaged in
the unsavory occupation of digging and
shipping guano from wave washed caves
and rock bound coasts, where sea birds
have been depositing it for centuries.
1t is well-known fact that pearls are
sometimes produced by means that are
partially artificial, especially in the Java
nese fisheries. That gem Of purest ray
serene, so priced by admirers of precious
stones in all ages of the world, is but the re-
suit of some lesion suffered by the oyster,
its solidifed tear of suffering. Hence an
injury is often purposely inflicted by in
PRODUCING between the shells q small
stone OF shot, or bit of gravel, and then
the oysters are again put to bed. This
process is said to be successful in produc-
ing great quantities of pearls, but those
thus formed are inferior in lustre and less
desirable for marketable purposes. No
such attempts have been made in the
Mexican fisheries, for those supplied by
nature are sufficiently numerous.
The pearl oysters prefer well-sheltered
bays or harbors where fresh water emp
ties, and in such localities north of Cape
San Lucas the brightest gems have been
found. For more than 800 years these
fisheries have been in the possession of
private families by grants dating back to
the DAYS of the conquest, like that of
the Navarro family. And thus it hap
pened that the pride OF the Spanish re-
gala is an enormous Mexican pearl which
is brilliant yet, though stolen from the
seas before the Nepoleonic invasion.
IL many places along the gulf quaint
ties of pearl smells have been washed
ashore by hurricanes; strange to say,
however, no oyster bearing the fruit so
eagerly sought has ever suffered itself to
be stranded, but all cling tenaciousiy to
rocks and corals at the bottom of the
sea, till torn off by the divers. The best
J fishing season is from May to Novembe",
during the annual time Of rains. 1t 8
estimated that at least one-Quarter Of tie
entire population of Lower California a, Q
interested in pearl fishing. The beds lie
at depth of from ten to forty feet, t Q
probable average being about twenty
feet. The native divers, who brave all
manner of sea monsters Tor q few
cents per diem, show wonderful skill
and aptness in their work. Generally
with no other apparatus than a heavy
stone attached to the waist, they plunge,
naked, to the bottom, select bivalves,
and gather them into bag, often re-
naming under water as long as 100 sec.
onds. The divers are, of course, EN-,
ployed with view to their ability and
experience, and must exercise considera'
BILE Judgment in selecting the oysters
yet, despite all pretensions to the con
trary, no human being can tell whether
shell contains pearls or not till it has
been brought up and examined. 1t il
only known that the younger growth
must be left undisturbed, and that the
largest and oldest oysters seldom contain
pearls, though they are frequently brought
up for the value of the shells. The ma
tive divers depend largely upon certain
charms, signs and nominations. On ris.
ing to the surface the fisher empties hi!
bag into one of the waiting surf-boats
which craft, under careful guard, deliy
er their loads to the well armed schooner
the latter vessel running into shore a
evening to discharge the accumulated
cargo. A very strict police system i
necessary to prevent serious thefts, yet
despite the utmost vigilance, they are o
daily occurrence.
The fishing is continued for about 81,
hours per diem. On land the cargo i
turned over to keepers, and the mass
which out.scents far-famed Cologne,
surrounded by guards armed to tn
teeth. The shells are Immediately open
ed and carefully searched for pearls
after which the small gray treasures ar
examined by experts, their value est
mated, and settlement made at one
with the divers. Usually their wage
amount to twenty-five per cent of tn
total find, anc are paid by an allotmen
of pearls taken during the day. Thi
makes an uncertain income, but it is bes
for both master and man, as it encoul
ages the divers to diligence. Thong
the fishing season continues less tina
half year, the profits of the divers ar
sufficient to maintain them we'll durin
the months of enforced idleness, an
afford wide margin for tn
gambling and other vices
which they are universally addicted
1t Frequently happens, before the retur
of the fishing season, that diver, hayin
reduced himself to abject poverty b
Mexican tanglefoot and its accessorie
goes about Offering gems for few do
lars, a square meal, or bottle of mesca
and even then, if the European buyer
have departed, their pearls may be wort
| M morn thnn 90 many nahhles for 10 IL