The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1885-04-02
AMONG THE PEARL DIVERS.
Fishing for Pearls in the GIlle Of Cali
forniG.

Fishing for Pearls in the GIle Of Call
fornia.
Fanny B. Ward describes in letter
to the New York Sun how pearls are
sought by divers in the Gulf Of Califor.
MIA: The profit of the fisheries, she says,
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 $1.5 to SIS per pound.
For centuries the gulf coast has been
noted fer its genealogical beauties, but
the shells of the pearl fisheries are most
highly priced, some of them being fully
fifteen inches wide, and marvelously
beautiful when polished. One may find
them for sale in the San Francisco shop"
for fabulous prices, with birds, flowers,
or landscapes elaborately 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 fowery 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 q 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 ali 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 small
stone or Shot, or bit of gravel, and then
the oysters are again put to bed. inns
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 Ncpoleonic invasion.
In many places along the gulf quanti-
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
fishing season is from May to November,
during the annual time Of rains. 1t IS
estimated that at least one-Quarter OF the
entire population of Lower California are
Interested in pearl fishing. The beds lie
at depth of from ten to forty feet, the
probable average being about twenty
feet. The native divers, who brave oil
manner OF sea monsters Tor 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 a bag, often re-
naming under water as long as l2o sec.
onds. The divers are, of course, en-
plovcd with view to their ability and
experience, and must exercise considera-
bic Judgment in selecting the oysters;
vet, despite all pretensions to the con-
trary, no human being can tell whether
a shell contains pearls or not till it has
been brought up and examined. 1t is
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 incantations On ris-
ing to the surface the fisher empties his
bag into one of the waiting surf-boats,
which craft, under careful guard, deliv-
er their loads to the well-armed schooner,
the latter vessel running into shore at
evening to discharge the accumulated
cargo. A very strict police system is
necessary to prevent serious thefts, yet,
despite the utmost vigilance, they arc of
daily occurrence.
The fishing is continued TO. Auout six
hours per diem. On land the cargo is
turned over to keepers, and the mass,
which out scents far-famed Cologne, is
surrounded by guards armed to the
teeth. The shells are Immediately open
ed and carefully searched for pearls,
after which the small gray treasures are
examined by experts, their value esti-
mated, and settlement made at once
with the divers. Usually their wages
amount to twenty-five per cent of the
total find, anc are paid by an allotment
of pearls taken during the day. This
makes an uncertain income, but it is best
for both master and man, as it encour-
ages the divers to diligence. Though
the fishing season continues less than
half year, the profits OF the divers are
sufficient to maintain them we'll during
the months of enforced idleness, and
afford q wide margin for the
gambling and other vices to
which they are universally addicted.
1t frequently happens, before the return
of the fishing season, that diver, having
reduced himself to abject poverty by
Mexican tanglcfoot and its accessories,
goes about Offering gems for few dol.
lars, square meal or bottle of mescal;
and even then, if the European buyers
have departed, their pearls may be worth
no more than so many pebbles, for to the
poor folk of the vicinity the choicest
treasures of the deep are of no value as
possessions.
The Gulf bottom is soft, sandy soil,
especially suited to this branch of the
oyster family. The clear, shining waters
arc largely infested with source of ter
ror to noviccs, but which are almost en-
tirely disrcgarlcd by expert divers. The
complete Indifference Of these men to
this appalling danger IS hardly less re-
nlarkablc than their skill in destroying
the monster. Frequently, when black
man. cater appears in sight, the diver
boldly leaps overheard and engages in
+bo contoct mrrc1v for the snort of If