Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25

APRIL 70,
pare many agreeable dishes from them, such
as in winter especially, will be Q godsend to
the poorer classes when fresh vegetables are
scarce.
THE SILK WORM OF THE SEA.
OF the things of value which come from the
sea there is no end. The beautiful dye known
as Tyrian purple was formerly procured from
q sort of mollusk, the coloring matter being
obtained from a single vein in the back of the
animal Sepia is the dark fluid from the ink
bag OF the cuttle-ish. The gall of the carp is
used In Turkey as a green paint and for staining
paper. certain bivalve in the Mediterranean
attaches itself 20 the bottom by q rope made of
fiber so beautiful and delicate that it is woven
into all sorts OF exquisite articles, the useful
ness OF the golden threads thus employed hav-
ing earned for the spinner thereof the name
OF the silk worm of the sea-" Many kinds of
shells, whole or cut into pieces, are circulated
as money in Africa, India and other parts of
the world. Not few savage peoples utilize
the shells OF mussels, snails and oysters for
drinking vessels, spoons and other utensils.
The mother-of,pearl oyster and many mussel
into canoes and made into but
tons. Some large and thin shells serve
the purpose OF glass windows in eastern coun-
tries. Shell flowers, shell earrings, shell
brooches and shell bracelets are worn in civil
lized lands. Parchment is manufactured from
the lntestines Of seals and the same material is
employed by the Eskimo for clothing and
blankets. The stomach membranes Of the
hallbut are rendered serviceable in Greenland
for window panes and the same people use
walrus leather for harness and seal nets. Oil is
obtained from various mammals and fishes of
the ocean, from the porpoise, for the lubricat
ing the most delicate machinery from the cod
flsh for medicine, from the whale for illumina-
ton, and SO on. Among other such oils are
those of the sun fish and cramp fish for rheu-
matism and menhaden oil for paint, soap max
ing and currying leather. The bones and debris
OF the fisheries form fish guano.
THE SEA SLUG AND CUTIE FISH.
Among the curious products of the sea util-
lied in commerce is the sea slug, known as the
''beche-de-mer," resembling prickly cucum-
Der. brown or black in color, and from eight
inches to two feet in length. This delicacy APP
preciated only by the gourmet, is minced and
served In thick soup. 1t is taken ct low
water upon shoals and mud banks, over which
the fishermen wade knee deep; when their feet
come into contact with a slug it is picked up.
Sometimes the slugs are Owed for in deeper
places by experts People in this country do
not appreciate for eating purposes the hideous
cutie fish and other polypi, which afford so
profitable and extensive fishery along the
Mediterranean shores and in eastern seas
Nevertheless. the epicures declare the flesh of
these many-armed and pulpy horrors to be of
exceptional righteousness. They bring large
prices in the markets, dried, being usually
taken in the shadows or captured in deep
water by means of earthel jars strung together
and lowered to the bottom of the sea. The
Jars are permitted to remain for certain num-
Der of hours in order that the animals may
seek hiding places in them. Inasmuch as the
creatures are attracted by white or bright OBJ
Jects the fishermen deck places in the creeks
ly,f
shells, over which the polypi spread them
selves.
SHELLS USED FOR TRUMPETs AND PIPES.
Some kinds Of sea shells are used for trum-
pets and fog horns as well as for lamps and
vases, while the natives in certain parts of the
world make out Of shells very beautiful pipes,
short ebony stem being inserted into hole
at the apex of the spire. So precious was the
Iyrlan purple ofancient times, above referred
to, that in the reign of Augustus one pound Of
wool dyed with it sold for about $40 This is
not surprising, inasmuch as four pounds of the
liquor from the mollusk used were requir ed for
dying a single pound of wool. Thus the rich
Iyrian fabrics were worth their weight in gold.
The secret OF this dye was lost for centuries and
Its rediscovery in modern times has not been
useful, owing to the finding of the value of
cochineal and coal-tar colora for similar pur-
poses. The mother-of-pearl shells which are
manufactured today into SO MANY articles of
ornament and utility are those of certain large
species OF oysters obtained from several parts Of
the world. Their substance is formed of alter
nate layers OF very thin membrane and of car
Donate OF lime, but the pearly luster is produced
by minute waves in the layers. These burrows
upon the surface shed the brilliant reflection
that Is SO beautiful to the eye and the same eff
rect may be produced by scratching parallel
lines, thousand or more to the inch. upon
glass.
PEARLS THE MOST VALUABLE OF ALL.
The most valuable of all sea products il the
pearl itself, and the largest specimen known is
in the possession of an Englishman, Mr. Beres-
ford Hope. 1t is two inches long, four and one
half inches in circumference and weighs three
ounces. The father of the present Car of
Russia devoted twenty-five years search to the
collection OF pearls for a necklace which he
presented to bis wife. Each gem in the collec-
ton was required to be perfect sphere and
also it was demanded that none of them should
ever have been worn by any one else With
pearls 1t Is as with rubies; small ones are 80
plentiful as to be drug: but big ones are a
great rarity. Fishing for them is lottery,
numbered by millions. 1t is believed by
the Hlndoos that pearls are drops of dew
which fail into the shells of the oysters, the
moiiusks rising to the surface Of the sea in
the month of May to catch the drops in
their shells. julius Cesar presented TO
Servilia a pearl valued at $3.50. 900; Clodius, |
the Roman glutton, swallowed one worth $40
900. Sir Thomas Gresham. emulous of the
e example of Cleopatra, in order to exhibit his
loyalty, ground a pearl which had cost him |
S4o goo INTO cup of wine In order to thus fitly
drink the health of his queen. A pearl nearly |
three inches long pear shaped and said to be |
perfect in all respects, is stated to be in the
collection of the Shah of Peria, but the most
beautiful pearl known is in the Museum of
Zoslma at Moscow; it weighs twenty-eight
Pearls ha n yvay baap ha1l =
value by mankind. In the New Testament the
kingdom of heaven is compared to a pearl of
great price, and the New Jerusalem was re-
vealed to st. John as having twelve doors. each
OF which was a single pearl