New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
HARRIS, THE PEARL KING.
HOW THE YOUNG CALIFORNIAN MONOPO-
LIES THE TRADE IN THE Pa
CIFIC ISLANDS
CIFIC ISLANDS.

Los Angeles letter in the Chicago Times
Herald
1t is not generally known that one single mer-
chant. young Californian. thirty-two years
or age, controls the pearl and pearl-shel market
OF America and Europe. This monarch OF the
pearl trade is Samuel Harris. He operates in
The Pacific Ocean. and he has built up as
touEuing commercial reputation in the course OF
eight years.
There plenty of cattle kings in the West
ana wheat kings in the East and money kings
everywhere, but there is only one pearl king
and that peer is Harris. Thousands of rare
translucent gems are brought to this country
ana shipped TO Europe by his agents. He deals
in mother Of pearl shells by the ton, and the
magnitude of his transactions has made the
private mark of Harris, namely, a diamond in
closing a large II. seal of international i'm
Harris gathers his shining gems exclusively il
the Society Islands For eight years he has
made these Pacific land spots the field of his
interesting business. 1t was the shores Of
Tahiti that first he earned his title of king.
After repeated transactions with the natives
whom he employed in pearl fishing he stimulated
them T. ON pasSlNity To great activity gaining
their confidence and trust by honest and re-
liable barter. He never made promises to them
that he G:d not keep. He paid them in fun the
price which they demanded Himself finished
critic, connoisseur, he never permitted them
TO overvalue g pile of shells. and they grew to
admire him. He controlled the situation at
Tahiti. He easily king.
1t is said that Harris has been lover of these
delicate gems since his boyhood. Pearls have
always been to him the most MYSTERIOUS the
most wonderful. the most beautiful handiwork
OF nature. To him. gifted with an artistic, ideal
stic temperament. they appealed in a romantic
poetic way. To him each translucent globule
seemed like tear from the weird eyes of an
earth bewitched mermaid. They were silent
tokens OF the water maids grief she who per-
haps pined for a terrestrial lover.
Finally young Harris took a pleasure voyage
TO the distant Society Isles. and saw what made
his enthusiastic eyes bulge in their sockets. He
saw native children playing along the sands
with the richest pearls he had ever seen: he
the native bellies passing by with ropes OF
pearly gems about their throas, such treasures
as would have made society queen turn pale
with envy.
Then Harris made his first business trip to
Tahiti and he took with him 5000 worth of
merchandise. His burden consisted mainly Of
tobacco knives. rope. fsh-hooks and articles OF
clothing These were luxurious to the native
Tahitite, and the pearl trader brought bacl;
that year in exchange for his merchandise fully
$4,000 worth Of pearls and pear-shells. He did
not consider it bad bargain and he has been
back every year since.
Formerly only the lowest grade pearls were
brought to the American market. The finer ores
were retained abroad and rarely ever found
their way this side Of the water. Harris has
turned the tables. and now brings to the san
Francisco market the most perfect pearls found
anywhere The perfect stones are orient. and Of
translucent whitcncss or Cimmering iridescence.
They are finely symmetrical in form and the
best are generally pear shaped. like a falling
tear. The hunt for these beauties OF the deep
goes on necessarily. The same excitement md
uncertainty attend the fishing surround the
tireess chase for gold or the determined digging
in a diamond mine. There are the same labor and
the oft-repeated disappointment. Now and then
a great surprise is brought up by the fearless
pearl diver. That compensates for all the Yrst
Lately il was an immense black pearl, the hand
soonest Of its kind ever snatched from the "a tn
omless ocean. Harris brought it on his last
recent voyage to San Francisco. After careful
examination il was found to be absolutely Der-
feet. having a weight Of six carats. 1t is valued
in the London market at $50.
Since 1894 Harris has revolutionizel The trad
in pearl shells Only one grade ever found its
way TO the manufacturers of pcarl-snell Orna-
ments and gew-gaws. 1t was generally shell
that was thin. hakv and cOlorless. and sold for
$500 a ton This energetic young pearl sing
exports four different grades or varieties
ranging in value from 5000 to 81 200 d ton
All shells are purchased in bulk from the
native fishers. They bring down their lauls of
shell to the young kings schooner as II hes IN
port fretting restlessly against the side or the
rude piers They bring down their find here
for the kings inspection. He sits In state ana
/ passes judgment.
Harris can tell at glance what pile OF
shells is worth. He is an expert at deiermihhG
value and he is shrewd buyer as well. ana hi'
never permitted the native experts 10 outdls-
lance him in Judgment When pile OF shells Is
dropped before him he picks up one or TWO anI
runs his arm careessly through the heap. ana
/ in "a moment can determine the grade, TOT the
natives are clever at assortment. No uncommon
shells are ever found among the poor ones
They have not learned yet the trick OF deception
by mlngling the good and bad. ,
Now Harris sails away again for the nlhth
trip 10 the n-kissed Society group. Many aI
adventure loving youth yearns for me romance
and excitement Of these strange schooner Noy
ages that the pearl king taxes. ne soes ~
search OF rare treasure. and he comes back with
Golfers invariably laden. The trader is gratliy-
ing first a hobby and cultured. extravagan,
one but he is laying the foundation there1y oi
Gr,,l cd nf