The Florida star., 1902-07-25

pSaIio VI puEcot Eay sSi~hS eAae 81 " at
discovery In the warm waters Of those
faroff eastern seas.
While most mOllusks secrete mother
of pearl. there are few that yield
pearls. and the best producer OF both
is the pearl oyster OF the JOlo waters.
The finding of the pearl. however. Is
as uncertain as the finding OF rich mug
gets in placer mining. 1t has been
found that In opening over 5000 shells
not a single pearl worth SO was en-
countered, and. again, as many as Il
dozen have been found In a single
shell, and there is u story current that
all Englishman q few years ago found
shell devoid of the oyster. but con-
tanning siXty-fiye pearls
The value of the Jolo pearl. as OF all
others. depends upon its size. shape,
color. brightness and Freedom from de-
fectso Perfectly round pearls weigh
ing over twenty-five grains are rare
and very expensive. Pearls are sold
by the pearl grain, four grains being
equal to carat The formula for
finding the price OF pearl, beginning
at a size larger than n grain, is 10
square its weight and multiply the
product by the value OF n single grain.
two grain pearl. therefore. being
worth four times and tive grain pearl
being worth twenty-five times the val
ue OF n grain.
In the large collection OF pearls OF
the sultan OF Jolo have always been
many specimens rare in size. form and
luSter few have found their way
into the markets Of London and Paris
as the condition of the royal eXchequer
ran low. and their excellence may be
judged by the refusal 10 part with
them ut prices even higher than obtain
in Europe. Upon the death OF 4 for
mcr sultan in 1879 there was found
among his effects box full of pearls
of large size and superior quality.
Upon his demise. rs Frequently occurs
i'm oriental households. the contents of
this box disappeared. but Il portion of
the contents was subsequently recov-
cred hy bis son and successor. the sui
tan Rudcroodin. and Il few were sold
in 1882 in order 10 defray the expenses
Of lis pilgrimage TO Mecca Since that
late lurGe number of fine pearls have
found their way into the possession OF
the r"!S1ing sultan. who has been SLOW
To part with them.
II" pearl oyster she'll i valuable |
and il merit depends upon the qU:.fr,
If the hard. siIvrry. iridcSccut or uacrc-
'US lining particularly noticeable, !. |
he Juio product. The varieties known
b" ''':.H"r"" are The white. p" -o,Gc~ |
'dSrd az ii tLr LACK ,.o-rG shells. I'll, |
nari,rt pric" y;'ri,S fr.m $500 L. S1lc |
ton. according 10 quality %uJ II, |
source al Production. tie .Iulo SL,Il> |
'a.k!nc highest in the m.ri.,t.
iir chief sources ui tn" present sup |
by are Torres strait. Western AU~t..:-
IL HUd the Jolo "rCIljv,!@-n. TI-. !
So Manila was til" great center e..
his uHd" in tn" orient. AMI the "ut'r.
T"Guct OF the surrounding >ca~ lR
.lne known - Manila shells. lut Ill.
-"rj>.-hi"d policy "i Spain H. dealt
win Il inSulIr possessions forced IL
r::.~.'E "t this entire Ir:r:..- 10 IL,
British port "i Singapore. The prs.
III mother OF I,.arI trade Of iIiu Unite,
States = in an untu-tUu:.j" and a..
'"".'l:l condition H"r1U~c ia" raw H..
'rt-l. In" pearl oyster she'll a proC,c.
: ! utt'd States territory. passes fi~>.
,-Ju I:g.ii>u Ell chinese huu.~ t.ruu-!.
m@aD"r" ami th"Uc" L. London
Whence il iS shipped To The Uuit".
,t.,tpS. TO be, Nari,,i III, IN Ar4.ri,..r |