Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-06-25
AMEaloAN PEARLS.


now They Are Obtained from the Lower
California Fisheries.
Most Of the valuable gems found in
the fisheries Of Baja California havo
been sent to Paris, the great pearl mar
ket of the world. About all tho com
petition that exists is confined to a few
French houses, which have agents at
La Paz, who buy up the stones as fast
as found. II seems strange indifier-
once on the part Of the United States to
treasures so easily within her reach. not
to mention the merchants OF England
and Germany, that France is permitted
to secure all these gems for nominal
sum, and then sell them again TO these
same countries at an enormous adj
vance.
It is difficult to approximate the value
OF the Gulf Of California fisheries. be-
cause the fishers themselves place a
mere nominal value on the pearls In
thtir consular invoices before sending
them to Europe Thus superb gem,
which may sell for $500 when first torn
from the red hand OF the coral reef,
will bring in Paris from 5000 to
5000. Yet, with tn, haphazard policy
that has always prevailed the ANIMAL
yield of the z, II beds is estimated at not
less than $3.50, 900 worth, while five
times that amount would more iitly rep.
resent the real value Of TIC pearls MS
sold In Europe. Tue frequent occur
renee of black pearls in tn sc fisheries
has given them unusual Importance,
those gems being now the rage on tho
Continent, 10 BE- wora by people in
mourning. Rare and beau iful pink
pearls are also occasionally brought up,
moro valuable than diamonds of equal
size. During the year 1888 several not
able specimens were fund. Among
them was a lightbrown pearl, flecked
with darker shades, which weighed
sixty-fvc karats, its estimated value
being 5000. It was brought
up by Manuel Urbano, and
purchased by the pearl firm
OF Gonzales & Rulfo. who sent IL to
Paris. Another, found by Napoleon
SSyin. was pear-shapcd, white, shot
with dark specks. II weighed forty
four la ats. aud sold for S7,inl. At
the same time Messrs. Pablo, hidalgo
X Co, pearl merchants of La Pz,
SCcured another gem from some un-
known Indian diver for which they
raid $40 aud received $500 for it in
France. IL was oval shape, of light
sandy color, perfect in contour and
brilliant in luster, weighing thirty-two
karats. That lucky diver, Savin, found
two other treasures last year, weighing
respectively forty-live and thirty-one
karats. which together, because of their
surprising luster, brought $1,000.
But the most famous treasure Of all
was secured years ago near Loreto 10y
a Mexican diver, who came up into the
sunshine with the lovelicst gem of the
sea grasped in his dusks hand, a per-
feet pearl, weighing 100 karats, which
may to-day be seen in the royal crown
OF Isabel the Catholic.
The profit of the fisheries is by no
means limited to the pearls them
selves. The shells are also coveted,
the poorest selling upon the spot for
from S to II GEMS per pound, while
in Europe. where the lining of the
shells is worked into buttons and knife
handles, they bring from 20 to 80
cents per pound. Many OF the larger
shells are shipped to San Francisco,
where, as mother-of-pearl, they find
ready sale at from Sl.J0 to Sj per
pound. For centur es 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 marve'oIsly beautiful when pol
ished. One may find them for sale in
the San Francisco shops for fabulous
prices, with birds, flowers or land
scapcs elaborately carved upon them.
The meat Of the pearl oysters, though
unstable in the American market. is
also made a source Of profit, being
readily bought by Chnamen, who dry
the leathery little bivalyes, or seal them
up in cans and send them TO their
brethren in China or in San Francisco.
Those scions of the Flowery Kingdom,
who reside in great numbers around the
gulf, are never employed divers, but
are engage in the un 'avory occupation
OF digging and shipping guano from
wave.wa-hcd caves and rock-bOund
coas 5, where sea-birds have been de-
posting II for centuries Il Is n we'll
known fact that pearls arc sometimes
produced by means that are partly arti-
ticial, especially in the Japaness fisher
les. That gem Of purest ray serene so
priced by admirers Of precious stones in
ali ages of the world, is but the result
of some les on suffered by the oyster,
its soldiied tear Of suffering. Hence
an injury is often purposaly inflicted b.
Introducing be ween the shells a small
stOn or shot or bit Of gravel, aud then
the oyslers are again put TO bed. This
process is said 10 be successful in pro-
ducing great quantities of pearls, but
those thus form d are inferior in lus.er
and less desirable for marketable pur-
poses. No such attempts have been
made in the Mexican fisheries. for tho @
supplied by nature are sufficiently nu-
mcrous.-S Francisco Cor " L.
Sun