The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14

and so, however much he may enjoy his
exclusiveness, he loses much of the poign-
ant pleasure OF the clammers' camp.
LESS PLEASANT PROCESS.
When fisher has taken many clans
as he can boil and sort in the after part OF
the day he draws W his boat and lightS
fire in furnace of rude masonry on which
is mounted a big sheet-iron pan. This he
fills with CLAIMS and water, and when they
have boiled about twenty minutes the clans
are open and ready for sorting. From the
pan they are shoveled into large. shallow
box called a sorting tray. which 10 fastened
on standards driven into the ground. maxi
ing ii about as high as an ordinary table.
This occupies one side of rough shed. UNI
der which the shells to be sold are piled,
since 10 allow them to bleach In the sun
cessfuiy. 1t is when the clam fisher 10
taking out the meats and sorting the shells
Sensitive aS as tRe nrers Of s the snd He
detects unerringly the least hard substance
in the soft meats he is handling. the eager
hope of the gambler seeming to be concen-
Pearls follow no law as 10 position. Seed
pearls ere sometimes fastened on the frilled
lip OF the clam, forming a continuous edge
not unlike pearl beads on a bit or lace.
Often pearls are embedded In the thick por-
tions of the mussefs body, and frequently
eh are no
the clam opens, the water in which they
are boiled is carefully strained. Upon any
pours nacreous substance Which is large
ly carbonate OF lime. This, deposited In ex-
quisitely delicate layers. is as smooth as
shape OF the foreign substance determine
whether pearl or baroque pearl II 20 re-
suit. The latter are being much used and
may be seen in almost any jewelers. win
dow. Some Of them are beautiful In color
and luster, and are effective az pendants
as the petals Of flowers and as the bodies OF
birds and insects set about with gems.
The pearling over Of any substance IN the
shell OF the clam is an instinct OF seif-pres-
ervation, as, IL the intruding matter be not
made smooth, IL irritates the soft, skinless
body. and death is the ultimate result Once
this pearlfng process begins II goes on In
definitely, and the pearl whatever Its
shape. grows constantly larger. Occasion
ally the deposit after a time grows coarse.
like the outside OF the shell When this 10
the case the pearl In what is known AZ
peeled of TO reach the pearly surface. Some
very fine pearls have been Of this kind. but
it requires great care and skill TO get the
| pearl out of the hard and often thick casing
successfully, and the most careful and exc
| pert work is not always rewarded. as the
| inner part Is sometimes yalueless.
MISSISSIPPI PEARLS
When a clam is pearling over a substance
| the tendency is to make II round. Were IL
| otherwise there would be no perfect pearls,
| as no particle Is a complete orb when 81 en-
tiers shell and becomes the basis OF .
pearl pearl that, when rolled on q level
| glass surface-which In the crucial test OF
| its shape-does not show the slightest In
| equality is valuable pearl. providing its
color and luster are good. Many pearls
| found by the Mississippi river clammers.
not perfectly round, yet in other respects
| fine, command good prices, as they can De
| set TO conceal slight defects OF shape. The
| colors OF Mississippi river pearls vary from
white and a delicate roseate PINK TO q dark
| shade OF heliotrope Some OF them have an
| iridescence. which is unusual In pearls. and
AS the gamester believes that luck. how
| ever long deferred, will at last be his. each
clammer confidently expects 70 ma big
| found on the upper Mississippi A few
| years ago a pink pearl was taken from a
clam bed at Rec Wing. MInn. that was
sold to a dealer for 81. DO. The dealer dis
| posed of II at a round pront. and later it
went TO Europe. and, IL IL said, Is now
among the Jewels Of an English duchess.
are enough s%en to inspire ' snthSsisstic hope
among several thousand clammers; and II Ia
not altogether hope deferred; as. during
OF good pearls.
II is said by those who live In houseboats
and make clam fishing a regular business
ner's luck" IL Is also stated that when
man who has the pearl fever begins 70
get discourage ana Is s about 70 sivs up ID, ms
| great pearl. A teacher OF languages In Q
school located near a large clam bed where
several valuable pearls have been found.
| has FOR a number OF years had this pearl
| fever. In the early dawn. and az long as
| he can after his school work IL done, he
| Is out on the river fishing or on the shore
| boiling and sorting clans. IL 10 related that
when he grows discouraged and offers his
outfit for sale he invariably 1nds pearl
worth SIS or more, and again he becomes
Il .sfa Nd MI
! the uncertain favor OF the gamblers deity