Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-14

hands on board, besides the divers, who
are at work below. Two pair take charge
alternately etthe air pumps. which must
be kept going without an instapts stop
page; one holds the life-lines in bis
fingers, watching for the least pull,
which Is a signal to haul no, aud the last
is the oversesr, who keeps an eye on
everything. The bumpers fix their
gaze stadily upon a little dial
plate placed amidships and do
not even turn ~ We row close
up 10 them. They are watching
the air-pressure gauge, for too much air
would prove as fatal 10 their mates below
as too little, 50 their eyes Fever wander
from the register in front OF them.
Every now and then strange and uncouth-
looking figures are drawn out OF the
depths and rise to the surface, dripping
wet, and are hauled into the boats
divers evidently. and yet unlike ordl-
nary divers-monsters, whose heads sp-
pear 10 hang down in front and wobble
rs they rise, and with curious humps on
their backs. The amber-reef fisher has
to work in a lying and recumbent
position, so that the ordinary
divers equipment has had to be
modified to suit him. Instead OF the
helmet, with it barred google eyes,
being screwed on to his shoulders IN an
upright position, it projects forward to
relieve the neck and collar Of the strain,
and hangs down in front go that his APP
pesrance as be arises from tho deep,
with the water dripping from this pen
dant empowering. is ludIcrousiy ike
some sea animal with a snouHess head
that vaggles solemnly from side to side.
To the back Of each Is strapped what
looks at first glance like a soldiers KNAPP
sack, but is really n metal box, with
an upper cylinder, constituting al
air reserve. so arranged ~ to sup
ply the diver at each inspiration With
exactly the quantum OF air ne needs, and
no more while the expired carbonic
acid gas rises, through another passage.
10 the upper atmosphere. As the divers
are hauled into the boats the overseer
takes from a receptacle around the
waist any amber blocks that have been
attached 10 it. After q few minutes
rest, the fisher descends and resumes bis
work below. With stout crowbar and
pronged iron he pokes about among the
masses OF weed and sand and stone that
forms the sea bottom, until be de-
tects the presence OF an amber
mass. Or, crawling about on hands
and knees, he loosen5 from the
sea floor any blocks recent storms
may have partially dislodSed. Often
these pieces require two or even
three divers to move them, and gigantic
slabs have now and again been found
that resist even the united strength OF
three pairs Of hands to diseniangle them
from the masses oil stones and weed en-
numbering them. The fishers remain
down five hours a day, and, though in
autumn the sea is 50 icy cold 30 severe Is
the sirsin Of working under water that
they rise to the surface bathed IN perspl-
ration.
When gathered the amber is sorted ac-
cOrding TO color and size. Pale, straw
tinted pieces go TO the piremakers Of
Censtantinople, North Africa, aud the
Levant and are made into month
pieces; the light, bone colored, and
veined slabs are sent TO grace the classic
busts Of the peasant women OF Central
Italy; while the full-yellow, sherry
tinted specimens find their way to the
South Sea islands and inner Africa,
where, worked up toto necklets and
beads, they are destined to adorn the
ebony necks Of the dusky beauties Of
Otaheite or Timbuotoo. Water am
Der is nearly all transparent and
glasslike; earth amber that is to
say, amber obtained by digging
is OF the smoky kind, moro white
than yellow, and quito Opaque. Only
the finer sorts are Obtained from tho
"reef of Rruster-ort, and these fetch
on an average about i've thalers that is,
los per pound. Large blocks fetch pro-
portionately higher prices than smaller
slabs. while exceptional specimens of
unusual size 1un TO fancy prices alto
gether-Gl5 and even 80, it 10 siid,
having been pad forsuch samples. Most
OF the ordinary Guslitics OF amber 60 70
LcghOrR and Venice. In return North
east Prussia takes coral gathered from the
reefs Of tho Adrmtic. This IS due 30 the
factthat in tho Bnjtic provinces OF Germa-
ny and the ncighbornoOd custom ordains
that brides nnl young married women
shall appear in curious ornament OK
red coral. It's made By stringlng coral
beads on g stout siken cord, the small
est beads procurabls coming first, larger
next, then still larger ones. until the
largest Of all are reached. THIS orna-
meut is WON in such . way that the
smaller beads are round tue neck, tho
next in size round the shoulders, WhIio
the largest cover the shoulders and de-
pend down tho back Tho cost o. pertec.
string of coral Ike this is more than ESQ,
aud all weiI-to-do Polish families com
slider It al indispensable item Of a bride =
outfit. Hence the demand for coral 10
pretty regular end constant in tho North,
and in this way it comes that, practically
speaking, the produce Of the Italian
coral reefs 10 exchanged for tna yield OF
the Baltic amhCr.hsAerY.