Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-08
PEARLS m 0YSTEBa
FORMATION OF THE PRECIOUS GEM
IN THE SHELL FISH.

IN The SMELL FISH.
Lis - the Divers who Gather the Pearls.
Psaess where the Bivalves Thravs-rAs
Pearl Il Liable 70 Decay-Iassrsssiag
Facts Abeas the Basiaess-
To picture the sedase and matter Of
fact oyster rs rising to the surface Of the
ocean 10 drink in the dew of heaven may
wen be regarded rs stretch Of the I'M
agination worthy Of the most fxnciful
weaver Of romances. Yet such WAS
stated by early writers to be the origin
Of the pearl. that gem which is deemed
worthy to deck the brow Of royalty.
which adorns fair women. which is tho
delight of the treasure hunter and which
in all ages has been the symbol Of beauty.
purity and worth.
Thisprstty conceit. however. is brushed
away by the stern realities of sober fact.
The keen eye Of science has discovered
that the birth OF y pearl is anything but
poetical affair. 1t is due to IN acct
dent. and to one of those provisions Of
nature by which every living creature
res.sts for foreign attack and seeks TO
protect itself from injury. The oyster
pearl springs into existence in two diff
ferent ways. The first is by the intro
duction into the animal of q foreign sub
stance In some unguarded moment the
oyster may permit minute grain OF
sand TO slip into its domicile and lodge
between the flesh and the shell. The
oyster is powerless to expel the intrud-
ing substance. which Immediately be-
comes a source Of irritation.
There is but one remedy. The animal
begins to cover the grain Of sand with a
coat of membrane. followed by layer
Of calcareous matter called nacre. This
is identical with mother-of- pearl, that
beautiful lining of the shell which re
aects all the colors Of the rainbow as
well rs the most delicate and subtle
ints. Nacre is constantly exuded from
he body of the oyster. the cookie, the
nautilus, the snail and other animals of
the mollusk order, and forms their outer
covering, hard or soft. thick or thin, ac-
sording to the protection demanded by
their surroundings Around the intrud-
ing grain of sand which has been men,
toned accumulate alternate layers of
membrane and nacre until q pearl is
formed.
THE MOST VALUED GEMS.
These pearls. however, are not the
valuable gems of commerce, because. in
the first place. they preserve the form of
the grain Of sand. and hence are irregu-
var in shape. and in the second place,
hey frequently adhere to the shell and
consequently present one rough side.
The perfect pearl is found loose in the
Interior Of the fish, and has its beginning
in an animal germ. The oyster annu-
ally produces II number Of eggs, which.
us soon as they develop into diminutive
animals, are thrown out Of the mother
Occasionally, however. an egg proves
abortive and remains behind 1t is almost
microscopic in size. and is inclosed in n
tiny capsule. This capsule now becomes
to all intents and purposes foreign sub
stance. But it has certain powers akin
| to those of the present, one OF which is
that of manufacturing, throwing out
and gathering around itself nacre. The
nacre completely envelops it, and the
germ Of the animal is soon incased in II
beautiful prison. usually spherical in
form, but sometimes pear shaped. This
is the true pearl.
The most famous pearl fisheries in the
world are near the coasts of Ceylon,
Japan. Java and Sumatra and in the
/ Dorv,.,, rule ,1tbn,,,,l ,,1s ,,,G al
quantities are obtained in the streams of
va-ous countries.
HOW THE DIVERS WORK.
Before the divers begin their work
there are blessings and magic spells from
priests and sorcerers to drive away the
sharks and bring good luck. These in
carnations are of course roundly paid
for. The boats start out late at night,
so that operations may begin at day
break. The divers have small instru-
ments for COMPRISING the nostrils and
beeswax to stop the aperturcs in their
ears. Each one holds block of stone
between his feet to aid his descent.
l.caping from the boat and plunging be-
meath the waves, the divers reach the
bottom, where they run about swiftly
and fill their bags with oysters as quick
ly as possible. When one is ready to
rise he gives signal and is drawn back
to his boat by rope.
Divers cannot remain in the water
over minute on the average, while two
minutes taxes the most expert. A very
| few who have stayed under four or five
minutes have won great regulations for
their extraordinary endurance.
The occupation is injurious to the
health, as it requires a tremendous
amount OF exertion. Divers are short
lived. subject to various diseases and
have been known to expire suddenly
upon reaching the surface of the water.
One popularity of pearls is that. I'M
like other precious gems. they are liable
to decay. Occasionally a valuable pearl
changes color. seems to be attacked with
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