The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-23
THEY SEEK BLACK PEARLS.
An Industry of tho Pacific Coast About
which Some Mystery Exists.

Which Soma Mystery Exists.
PASADENA. Cal. Nov. 19.-About sixty miles
of the coast OF California lies an island that is
headquarters for the black pearl trade. and SIM
liar fisheries are found on other islands along
the coast. Som time ago an individual who
had gone to this island to collect relics Of the
natives. for which the place Ia famous. deter
mined to investigate the mystery Of the black
pearls. An old man appeared to be the sole In
habitant, and he was very uncommunicative.
BLACK pearls. is It ?" he said. Amt the
white ones good enough that people should go
hunting black ones ?" Yes. he said In reply to
further questions, he had seen them. but they
were generally considered useless. and ho
reckoned the men threw them away. Yet this
same old fellow. according to report. had sold a
black pearl to the agent OF a large jewelry
house in the East for a goodly sum. the gem
being resold for a large advance.
The old beachcomber evidently hoped to dis
courage that newcomer: but he did not sue
coed. as the latter established camp on the
beach and began watching the island and those
who visited 1t. His theory was that the old
man was the dealer who handled the pearls.
and that the object was to keep the trade quiet.
A few days after the strangers arrivals typical
Chinese Junk hove in sight and landed several
Cinnamon. who went into camp on the sand
dunes. The following day they began to hunt
for abalones. The white man applied for job.
but was rejected. Then. finding that they
would have nothing to do with him. he
moved his camp ovor near theirs and
began to watch them. The men were sent
out every day in gangs of two. or three. and at
low tide they hunted along shore In search OF
the beautifu poarly Abalone. which they prled
from the rocks as they walked along. .andthen
dropped into a bag. Each mar would collect
on an average thirty or forty a day, all OF which
were taken to the camp and carefully examined.
They had q big trough into which the shells
were dumped, Then several Of the Chinaman
began the work OF cutting out, the meat from
the shell. This was carefully gone over by
hand In search, as was learned later, Of the
black pearls. which are found In the folds OF the
animal itself. After this the meatlwas spread
out to dry, and ultimately went to China; Then
the shells were carefully gone over. and from
these the bulk Of the pearls were taken. most
OF them being imperfect or, broken from the
shells. These are sold 10 the'tIade, polished
and ground to the proper shape. and disposed
OF for OF various kinds.
Whether the old man was the boss pearler
could not be determined. The newcomer.
while watching the. Cinnamon, had. gone into
the shell-collectin business himself, and when
the old man saw this he offered TO buy his
shells alive. In short, he evidently did not
wish the business 70 be investigated too
closely: but the stranger persisted. and found
that nearly all OF the abalones had pieces OF
pearl, aud many contained a black pearl more
or less perfect, At last accounts. like his, ON
panions. he WAS still hunting pearls. and. like
them. lying low and keeping what may be a
Eoodthing to himself.