The Lamar register., 1897-10-30

diggers and divers, who are paid 81
per day for their services. On account
OF the color of the water they have to
feel for tho CLAIMS. which are buried in
the mud. with their hands or bare feet,
and SO can work effectively only In
shallow places As soon as machinery
can be put in. however. the bottom OF
the lakes. including the deeper parts,
viii be thoroughly dregded. and 1t is
expected that more satisfactory re-
suits will be obtained. II is the theory
of the Memphis men who are backing
the enterprise that the mussels oc-
casionally shed their pearls, and that
others that have died still contain the
gems. and will be found buried deep
down In the mud at the bottom OF the
lakes
1t Is possible. too. that the manufac-
ture of mother OF pearl VIII be started
to utilize the shells, as Is done in
lower California. from whence most of
the pearl used in buttons for our waist
coats and dresses now comes. Mother
Of pearl. it may be explained is simply
inside lining of the shell. which is cut
up and used for buttons and orna-
ments
Instances of rich finds are reported
every few days from Bald Knob or the
adjoining country. A few days ago a
negro who gave his name as Harris
walked into a Memphis jewelry store
and exhibited small bag Of pearls.
Most of the stones were small. and
worth no, more tkan 81 or S. each. but
there were a few OF larger size, includ-
ing one or two pink pearls OF very good
quality. An offer of 800 was made
for the lot The negro held out for
more. and finally accepted $3.50. lie
said that he had worked for a month.
and had opened thousands Of shells to
get the stones. He acknowledged that
he was from down White county
way" but refused to tell where he had
found the gems. as he said that there
were more In the same place. and he
vas going back after them.
A man named DeaIe In Bald Knob
sent n dozen pearls to New York. and
has received an offer of 800. He found
them all in the course OF week.
j. p. Smith of Four Mile lake. has
been gathering pearls for several
months. but has been keeping quiet
about IL He says that he has sold
about 81 COO worth. and still has some
very good stones In his possession.
John German found 500 pearl at
the mouth of a creek that runs into the
Little Red river.
Three brothers, negroes. named
Hopkins. claim to have taken 81 200
worth of stones from the river and the
ponds near IL.
Many Of the natives In White county
have in their possession pearls OF more
or less vaiae taken from the ponds
before the excitement set In. Many of
them decline to say anything about
aheIr finds. as they don't wish to en-
courage n rush to the spot.
There are two other places In this
country where pearls have been taken
in considerable numbers One OF
these Is the Wisconsin lake region.
several years past. In these lakes and
streams the water Is perfectly clear.
and the shells are obtained by wading
and diving. Several New York dealers
say that they have had stones OF con-
siderable value from the Wisconsin
fields. and some thousands OF dollars
have been taken cut of the lakes and
streams Of this region within the past
few years. though there is no system
affixed effort TO carry on the work such
as is to be made in Arkansas.
The other field where pearls have
been found recently is In the Grasse