The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-15

at the bottom. generally in deep water.
and the instances where shells are foun
on the beach they have Strayed in there.
While Catalina. as resort, is still
young, 1t will undoubtedly soon have a
number of industries. of which the COL
lection Of the haliotis, or abalone SHE'LL is
a not unImpOrtant one. The meat of the
shell is an important item to the Chinese.
and the State ships East about 1000 bags
of them a year. valued at about So. 900.
and they come back to California in tn q
shape of buttons, cheap jewelry. etc.
Why the buttons and jewelry cannot be
made here would seem a pertinent ques-
ton.
Among the shells found here is the in
evitabe teredo, that bores its way into
everything and which has cost the Gov
ernments of the world millions. The only
thing which / have ever seen demOra lie a
teredo was the trunk Of Florida pal
metto. The teredo looks like worm and
bores its way into wood. lining it with a
tunnel as IL goes. Some years ago after an
earthquake shoal was uncovered, lis
closing some teredos that were six feet
in length, with tunnels four inches IN
diameter-the giants of the race. | once
found the wreck of a large ship high OH
a Southern reef, and upon visiting 1t at
extremely low tide found the entire hull
eaten away, the wood replaced with these
delicate tubes. which ran in every direc-
tlOB. The hull retained its shape, as it
was out of the reach of the waves, but |
could push my fingers through it any,
where, and one good sea would have
washed it out of existence.
There are several kinds of la snails on
the island, and in following along the bed
Of mountain stream, high up among the
mountains. l found layers of haliotis ten
or fifteen feet below the surface. They
had evidently been left there by the ma
tlves, but how many years ago no one can
tell. An estimate might be made by guess
ing at the time it would require for them
to become covered to depth of ten feet of
SOLID gravel and loan. The shell hunter
will find among the old shell heaps Of the
natives many interesting specimens, and
perhaps most Interesting of all is the
many uses TO which the natives put the
shells. The abalone is found in most of
the graves, and was made into variety of
ornaments, as beads. pins, etc. some of
the former being Of great beauty and
symmetry.
The writer took from a grave number
of beads that were circular dishes two
inches across, of perfect shape and per-
forated In the middle. Each dish was of
the variegated pearl of the ballots and
really a beautiful object. This shell
was also cut up into ishhooks-curious
things, with the barb on the outside. The
whole shell was used as a drin king-cup.
the holes or openings being stopped up
with asphaltum. Bits of the pearl were
also used to ornament weapons and
especially musical instruments - flutes.
whistles. etc. Other shells, the smaller
kinds, we're used as beads and money,
the latter kept strung upon a cord or fiber
or wire if they had it. Half an hours
digging In any of the old mounds or heaps
have produced these curiosities that tell a
most interesting story OF old times on tn G
island. PISCATOR.
SANTA CATALINA, June %, 1894.