The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-04
SHELLS OF THE OCEAN.
The Demand for Pacific Coast Shells for Moth
er of Pearl Ornaments and Inlaid Work.

Correspondence of the Sunday Journal.
Los ANGELES, Cal. Feb. 28-Away down on
Also street. in one of the quietest parts of Los
Angeles, there is unpretending building
which, at a superficial glance appears TO be de-
voted to the retail sale of sea shells There is a
meagrs supply of all sorts of small stacks of
shells in the windows, well as large stacks of
shells in the store. But there is glass Office
with desks and books and other Indications of
business and these in the quiet out-of-the- way
street, indicated that this was not retail
shell store. Yet no outside appeared to
know what il was. No one in Los Angeles had
or has any suspicion that trade amounting to
hundreds of thousands of dollars per annum is
4-sf9ied on in this modest little store op Aise
street.
Upon the top of large safe in the Office was
displayed an assortment of Shells which at once
attracted the reportor;al eye. They were of
various sizes, almost round, and fiat shells
can be made. The largest were about eight
inches in diameter, the smallest about five
inches. They be seen in almost any win
dow in San Francisco or New York, where fine
paintings are sold, and usually have q pretty
little landscape painted upon their face. They
are overlaid with milkwhite pearl, which is
bright and exquisitely beautiful and which ex-
cites Immediate admiration and attention.
In response TO the interrogatory Mr.. Levy ex-
planned: Those shells, sir. are called in trade
the Tahiti shell, but they better known
the 'mother-of-pearP she'll to those who buy
them. They brought to California from the
island of Tahiti, whore the natives dive for them
ana bring them to the surface OF the sea for
barter with our traders. You have little idea of
the value of these shells taking down about
the size os tea-saucerl. This one is worth so
at wholesale, and this taking down one large
as a diunar-platel is worth 81. / sold n pair ID
San Francisco, the other day, not much larger
than these, for $50. You look skeptcal and in
credulous. Yet, what say is true. / will tell
you something more which will surprise you. A
few weeks ago ] received order from one of
my correspondents in Paris for lot of mother
Of-pearf shells. was in San Francisco the next
day. and in three days filed
der for shells amounting to $4,000,
which shipped direct to Paris.
That basket you there is full of pearl oyster
shells from La Paz on the Mexican coast"
There was, perhaps, half 8 bushel of the shells.
which were of the size of the second sizen East
ern oyster sold in our restaurants. These pearl
oysters are more fat and regular, and upon the
outside have radiating rows from the thick
portion of the shell. That little basket of
What fort" ''Oh, for button-makiug. They
are used for the surface of pearl buttons. and
sometimes are more valuable than at this time
just the fashion or rage for pearl buttons
is not in vogue; hence we pay less and have
smaller demand for pearl oyster-shells. Our
trade is largely dependent upon fashion, and
when people want pearl buttons we send for
more shells from the Mexican coast and pay q
better price. At present the demand is light
and the trade dull"
shells on hand, asked for information relative
to the trade. There are four varieties known TO
the trade of which, the large blue shells,
is most valuable In commerce. These blue-greeu
shells found the coast of Mexico and
lower California, ard gathered by trading
and fishing boats and brought to this city by
the wav of Wilmington They are larger and
more beautiful than the California abaloue
shells, and command high price. Dir. Levy
states that he has standing order from Paris
for all these shells he obtain of this variety.
The black California abalone shell is the next
most desirable of sea-shells in commerce. This
is gathered principally by Cinnamon along the
These are used for inlaid work upon boxes.
furniture. knife-handles and jewelry, and bring
about thousand dollars per ton Europe 10
the principal market for them Then there is
the common gray abAlone shell. which
nuay gathered all along the coast, and has
market value of 800 per ton These shells are
stored at San Diego. San Pedro. Los Angeles
and Santa Barbara, and shipped trade de-
mands to all parts of Europe
Several hundred thousand dollars are annual
ly invested in these shells, which used in
the manufacture of buttons and ornaments for
the European market In addition to the large
shells mentioned, immense numbers OF fine
shells imported for this trade from the
coasts of Japan, China. and the South Sea ISL
ands The principal point for the trade is here
in Los Angeles. Another important branch of
the shell trade Is that of ''<malI shells" which
are sold at the rate of $50 and ST5 per hundred
pounds. These gathered upon the shores of
thu southern aud the islands n the Pacific
ocean. and shipped here in sacks and again re-
shipped by vessels from Wilmington TO various
Manufacture of various kinds of ornaments Il
is q trade quite Important in its value. and OF
which so little is known that not half dozen OF
the residents of Los Angeles were of its
existence. CAMERON.
Uses OF the Electric Motor.