New-York tribune., 1897-08-22

lusrc weighs nincty-threc grains and measures
about five eghths of an inch in diameter. 1t was
| sold by Tiffany & Co. to the Empress Eugene of
France for s.. 800 Owing to the rise in the
value Of pearls 1t is worth four times that sum
to-day There was great excitement after this
discovery and thousands % musseIs were de-
stroyed ir further researches. A large round
pearl weighing four hundred grains. which, Mr..
Kunz says would doubtless have been the finest
Of modern times, was ruined by boiling open the
shell in order 20 extract it.
Early in the summer of 1889 some magnificent
pearls were found in rivers and creeks in various
counties Of Wisconsin. More than $4,000 worth
were sent to New-York in three months In
color they principally copper-red. purplish-
red and dark pink The pearl fever in WIS
consin ragged violently in 1890 and 1881. Hun
dreds Of men. women and children Hooked TO the
creeks. the men and boys assuming the task or
getting the musscls out Of the water. while tho
women and sirls opened them. From one to
fifty pearls often found in a single she'll.
After time the Wisconsin streams seemed to
be worked out. and the fishing grounds changed.
At present the chief pearl producing States are
Kentucky. Tennessee. Texas and Arkansas.
TH4I PEARL-IiUNTERS.
The pearls are usually found by farmers. who
hunt for them in their ~.arc time. or by unem-
ployod country villagers. who are looking out
for some method Of making money quickly with
out too much hard labor The destructive mode
of pearl-fishng which prevails in this country
is responsible for the fact that rich streams
soon become exhausted. Musseis are destroyed
by the bushel and. IN the haste of the pearl
seekers sufficient time is not taken to sort them
over first pick out those which promise rewards
and throw the others back into the water In
Saxony and Bavaria the pearl-fishers have in
strurnents by means of which they can open
mollusk without injuring it. If no pearl is in
side, the shell can be closed and the animal re-
stored to its element again. Such device here
would be of immense saving. The factory ref
use and sewage which pollute so many
streams in the more thickly settled parts of the
country are also responsible for the extermina-
ton of the mOiluskS therein. and other destruc-
tive agencies are to be found in freshets and
| the dcIredations Of hogs and muskrats in search
Of food.
In fishing for pearls the shell of the hivalVe
should be opened as soon it is taken from the
water This is because the stone is injured by
being left in the shell until the animal De 'ays.
Sometimes a pearl which appears duh and worth
less is merely coated with outer OPAQUE layer.
which beirg removed by means Of a weak acid
solution leaves the lustrous gem in its beauty.
So much Importance is now attached to the
frosh-Water pearl fisheries Of the country that
the United States Commission of Fish and Fish
cries has instituted, through Mr. Kunz. a gen.
eral inquiry regarding them. Circulars contain
ing questions. with blank spaces left for an
swers have been sent out to all the important
fishing grounds. and many replies, giving full
and detailed informton, have been received.