The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-28
OUR PEARL FISHERIES.
100000 Yielded by One District In
Eight Years.

100000 Yielded by One District In
Eight Years.
From the N. Y Commercial Advertiser
The fresh-water pearl fisheries of the
United States, which have passed through
many ups and downs, are discussed at
length in a paper by George F.. Kunz, Of
Tiffany & Co, read before the Fishery
Congress at Tampa, Fla, and published
in the Fishing Gazette. 1t is not by any
means a new industry, for many pearls
have been found in the mounds; but It's
modern development dates back only forty
years, and early travellers among many
Indian tribes reported fine pearls seen by
them.
But although pearls were known to ex-
list no particular attention was given to the
fresh-water pearl fisheries in this country
Notwithstanding that in the rivers of Sax
ony and Bohemia and those of Scotland
and Ireland and the lakes of Finland such
pearls have long been known and valued
Not until the middle of the present century
was any search begun or any important
discovery made.
This was all changed, however, by the
first great pearl excitement in 1857, when
large and valuable Unio pearls were first
obtained in New Jersey. First pearl OF
fine Iuster, weighing ninety-thfee grains,
was found at Notch Brook, near Paterson.
1t became known as the Queen Pearl"
and was sold by Tiffany & Co 10 the EN-
press Eugene of France for $500 1t Is
to-day worth four times that amount. The
news of this sale created such an excite
ment that search for pearls was started
throughout the country The Unios at
Nortch Brook and elsewhere were gather
ed by the million and destroyed, OFTEN
with little or no result A large round
pearl, weighing 400 grains, which would
undoubtedly have been one of the finest
pearls of modern times was ruined by
boiling to open the shell.
Within one year pearls were sent TO the
New York market from nearly every
state; in 1857 fully $4,000 worth. In 1893
Il fell off to some 81 600; in 1859, about 5000;
in 1860, about 1900; in 1S60-63, only $500
The excitement thus abated until about
1868. when there was a slight revival of in
terest and many fine pearls were obtain
ed from Little Miami River, Ohio.
Some of the finest American pearls that
were next found came from near Waynes-
Vile. o.. $4,000 worth being collected In
that vicinity during the pearl excitement
of 1876. Since 1880 pearls have come from
comparatively new districts further west
and South, the supply from which IS ap-
parently on the increase. At first few
AO|AAN~+
for west of Ohio, but gradually the line
extended. and Kentucky, Tennessee and
Texas became the principal pearl-produc-
ing states, and some pearls were sent
North from Florida
A few years later the interest extended
to the Northwestern states. During the
summer Of 1889 a quantity of rnagnificently
colored pearls were found in the creeks
and rivers of Wisconsin, in Beloit, Rock
county; Boscobel and Potosi, Grand coun-
ty; Prairie du Chem and Lynxyille, Craw-
ford county or these pearls more than
$4,000 worth were sent TO New York with
In three months including single pearl
worth more than $500. ana some among
them We're equal 90 any ever found for
beauty and cooring. The colors were
principally purplish red, copper red and
dark pink. Within the past eight years
over $4,000 worth Of pearls have been
cold from this district.
These discoveries led 20 immense activ-
ity in pearl-hunting through all the
streams OF the regions, but the Northwest
orn pearl excitement subsidized IN "a few
seasons. az the others had done ia turn
before, ~ the exhaustion OF the lnuasel
beds and the consequent cessation of
product. About every ten years or SO a
new wave Of interest arises Ia connection