Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-04-13
s-n1gL-e SHELLS.


cargo Of about th'r'y-s'A .np'Nlho
Acss # pearl from the Philippine
pu'as ar,iyed in this city recently,
I', y, will no doubt soon be converted
80 = .rtistic shapes for the adornmen'
bio m .,nnable mansions. One Of TIN
d la'', @,ctatons of the wealthy Is thu
', ,,i'a a. to their household gods Of
sd"oa .,,y executed sea and landscape
'll' ',sas in oil upon mothcr-of-pearl
a'. a # il doubtful whether one OF
menu D. Islaodrels who purchase them, OF
lhe pa. a the thousands who admire
fFe Wv show windows on Broadway OF
thsh " ..o have the remptest idea that
'I '"rs formed these shells for any Other
nha'o - than to be used in this style OF
S''I ,,rge importer Of shells and a
lecturer of pearl goods. in con-
D" ,,on with reporter, expressed
'u'a a;shment at the profound ignor-
a'D" a Il 80 many persons in regard to
~ aD'1 different localities from which pearl
as ~. oo,pe and the hundred and one
~, .aoses for which they are used.
PD 'unw many kinds are there used in
= hmsjnesse" asked the reporter.
'' .gbe shells which possess commel>
.,..lue are known to the trade as
' 9. Manila. Australian, Bombay, Ja-
", East India. Trocus, Chinese snail,
P P'", and red ear and Panama. Sew
'.,l If these species are pearl-bearine
's and only obtained by professional
, rsor. at the imminent risk OF Their
T vve, Many of these bvalves are very
s.,vv weighing sometimes eight OF
ten pounds. The moment the native
~. one ashore he forces it open. and
ss.rsf,,lly removing the living iAhabi
,snt carefully searches for any pear
! NAV contain. Not only the shell. a
nd about its hinge, but the meat OF
t.b within is Thoroughly examined, les
tbp pearl might be secreted. as is fire
ousnty the case, in the body. Thi
a1.mination over, the shells are lai(
side to dry, having first been thor
oughly cleaned. The finest shell TO
manufacturing purposes comes from
tho PHILIPPINE Islands and is called thu
Manila. 1t ranges in price from 60 t
# cents pound, and is used for max
mo dress and shirt buttons, pisto
stocks cuff buttons, parasol and um
hrpls handles, pen handles, studs ant
,core, of other articles. A thin veneer
inc il also made of it, which is WORT
M pound, and is used for inlayin,
ths covers of album, and fancy cabine
vork, These veneerings are fairl
dazzling with rainbow hues, aud whe
lightly polished are exceedingly beau
tiful. When we have got all these al
ticlcs out Of the she'll, there is very lit
tie of the shell remaining"
DIs there any difficulty or danger al
tending the gathering of these shells'
a should rather say there wa.
There is one species of shell. shape
like an ear, called the silver and re
ear. in the sides of which are sma
holes, and through these, by means {
long suckers, the fish fastens himself
arock When the tide has pretty neal
lyrun out the natives 80 down anon
the rocks and. Watching their oppo
mnity, catch hold of the upper she
which the shellfish keeps open. Unle:
he succeeds in the first instance in pull
ing it from its resting place, the an
NAL will close its shell in a second an
the mans fingers will be held in vic
like glip. In thar case the unfortuna
pearl gatherer will have to stand up
bis khees in water unless he cuts off h
imprisoned fingers, for the shell ca
not be pried open, nor can three me
with their united strength, pull Ii
suckers from the rock. The shell is
hard that it is next to impossible
smash it. There the poor fellow
held in agony until the tide rises, whe
unless he frees himself by chopping {
his fnger-ends and leaving them Fl
the animal to dine on, he is sure to
drowned
The business of pearl manufacture
comparatively new in this countr
and the profits are SO large that the
satendency to monopolize the indu
try. In consequence all sorts of devic
are resorted to in order to obtain Il
advantage. Some time ago lar
house in this city bought a cargo
pearl shells to arrive at seventy cents
pound. While the vessel was in tran.
The market fell about forty cents.
was lucky thing for the house tn
The vessel foundered off the Cape
food Hope for the concern would &C
Alnly have fouadered had the sh
come safely to port. Manufacture
mere prefer waiting for lots of pes
smells to arrive at this port direct fire
me fisheries, instead of ordering fire
london, knowing that the shells a
assorted there and the choicest pick
Out Tor the English aud French m;
Ns' There are several large man
,aaones of pearl work in Newar
f0liadephia, Germantown and in tt
Ivy and since the establishment
"H industry here the importation
paf' buttons from England has great
Aeh oil. N Y Commercial Adu
User.