The National tribune., 1899-08-24
GEMS IN PANAMA BAY.
The Annual Harvest o! Pearls Is Valued at slsocoo.
Cticd0o Record

| The magnificent pearls which ornament
the crown of Spain and which are so much
| admired by tourists who visit the cathe-
| drals at Seville and Toledo, were found
in oyster shells In the Bay of Panama.
and the largo strings and clusters which
the SpaniardS took from the indians both
| on the north and west coasts of South
America came from the same source Pearl
| fishing is still carried on to a considerable
| extent at Panama. In the Spring of 1899
| a boy Is years old found an oyster that con-
| cealed jewel now offered on sale in Paris
for $40 1000. He received 81, 900 for it from
| a negro speculator named Justiana. The
latter brought it to Panama and sold it to
Felix Erhman, the banker, for consider
able advance on the price. At the Erhman
| banking house tho other day 1 saw an
assortment Of pearls valued all the way
from $50 to $4,000. which are Panama
prices. and considerably lower than those
| that would be asked for the same jewels in
London, Paris or New York. Few pearls
are sent to New York, because OF the duty
imposed upon them by our Government.
Those that go are smuggled.
The annual harvest of pearls here will
| average value of about $780, 900. There
are several firms engaged in the business
l-Prospero DENIAL, Pisa Pisa, Arosenema
Hermanos, Madura Hermanos and others.
The Ehrmans do not do any fishing, but
buy pearls Of speculators.
|
Panama Bay. Two years ago an ordinary
| fisherman found one near Taboga Island,
| not more than half mile from the regll-
lar steamship anchorage, that contained
a pearl worth S2.4OO, but the largest beds
are about 30 miles from the city. The
oysters are much larger than those found
in northern waters, and the shells are
even larger still. The oysters are rank
and coppery, but are healthful and are
eaten by the natives. The smaller ones
are often brought to the Panama market.
| The pearl islands. as they are called
compose an archipelago on the west side
of Panama Bay, about 30 miles from the
steamship landing. There are 10 islands
and several large rocks, with between &c
and 40 little villages of negroes and mixed
Indians. a population of perhaps 1000 all
told, engaged in pearl diving. The islanE
are low and heavily tmbered and the sol
is fertile. The cocoanut groves and long
stretches of white beach that glisten like
silver in the sun make pretty picture
Most Of the islands belong to the mer
chants | have named, who cultivate tht
soil as well as manage the fisheries. Ths
largest, called Rey. which has about one
half the population, is Is miles long and
seven broad. San Miguel-St. Michael
the chief town and headquarters Of thu
fisheries. is nothing more than a cluster Of
palm thatched huts. Several stores arr
built of wood and corrugated iron, and 9
church of stone is larger and more costly
than all the rest of the buildings of thu
town combined.
The population, mostly colored, are de
scended from the slaves that were origin
ally employed by the Spaniards in pear
diving. Since freedom came in 1924 the
descendants of the old villagers have car
ried on the business under different regu
lations. The divers, like the gold miners
who were also slaves, were formerly KEEP
in pens like the diamond diggers of Brazi
and South Africa.
Most of the pearls are small, according
to the growth, and if they could be left il
the water would grow larger. Some arr
minute. like birdshot, which are worth
from 81 to $40 each. Occasionally they
find one as big as small pea; which vii
sell for S25 or $50. The value varies with
the size and perfection. l saw a beautiful
great black pear shaped pearl at Mr. Erh
mans that would have been worth thou
sands of dollars but for an imperfection
which reduced its value to hundreds. 1
can be SET in a brooch with the fair side out
like we wear our best manners in company
and the world at large may admire it, bu
every expert will at once recognize why i
was set that Way