Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-04-13

Dd'.1ins eat factor in
| the pear II has made
IA market for the snelis in which the
pearls are found. Muscatine. Ia, was
for some time the center of the indus
try for the United States. During
the summer of 1908 as many as forty
car loads of shells for buttons were
shipped into this town per week.
| There are several cities in the Miss
| issippi Valley wnere the button busi-
ness Is carried on ON a large scale
The city of Memphis, on account OF
| its central location and the fact that
| II is so close to the large pearl field
| of Arkansas has a great future in this
| business Pearls are found in all the
| streams in the vicinity of Memphis
| Ia some cities of the Mississippi valley
| the button business mas reached such
| proportion that the streets are paved
for miles with refuse shells from
which buttons nave been cut The re-
fuse shells are sometimes ground and
used for various purposes.
For some time Wisconsin was the
leading state in these industries but
the business has had a southern ten
dency, and Muscatine became the next
center.
Since the coming up of the large
pearl beds OF Arkansas. the city of
Mempnis has been used as a market
Memphis has not only button factor
les. but also jewelry factories. and the
city being located upon the banks OF
the largest river in North America,
in which are found annually pearls
amounting to nearly one million dol
lars, it, as matter of course, follows
that Memphis is and will be for years
to come, the center OF these twin in
dustries.
In the White and Black rivers of
Arkansas, and the tributary streams.
have been found pearls worth thou
sands of dollars each. Within the
past two weeks pearl was found
near Newport, Ark, worth $4,000
Any person who will take the time
to look for them can find some pearls,
and has al all times cnance of find.
ing a small fortune A good living
can be made by anyone by simply
fishing for the shells, and shipping
them to the button factories, where
they can be sold for prices ranging
from 50 to Sl5 per ton. according TO
kind and quality. The finding OF
pearls can in this way be made side |
line with sure income for the fisner |
The method usually used by the fish
ORG 81 lai
is TO have boat about four feet wide |
and ten feet long with fiat bottom |
On each side OF this boat are nailed |
Two upright pieces with a grove in the |
top. Across these upright pieces, and !
extending from one end OF the boat |
TO the other are laid iron rods with |
about ten feet OF rope attached to |
each end. One end of each rope is |
tied to one end of the rod, and the |
otner end to the boat. Along this rod |
at intervals of about twenty inches |
are tied cords about thirty inches in |
length, and these cords are covered |
with hooks from one end to the 9th |
er. The hooks are made OF smooth |
fence wire, and nave three prongs |
The boat is rowed up stream, and the |
rods being lowered into the water |
the strings of hooks drag over the |
bottom as the boat drifts slowly down |
stream.
The clans are lying on the bottom
with their shells partly open, and |
wnen the hooks in dragging tne bot
tom come in contact with the clam, 1t |
at once closes its shell and is a pris- |
oner because it wiz not let go. When |
the fisherman thinks his hooks are
full. ne raises the rod by pulling in
the ropes, and II the catch has been
of shells.
The same ground can be gone over
for days, as the clans lie in beds
ranging from two to six feet in depth,
and as those at the top are caught,
others rise and take their places. The
clam beds are, in some cases work
ed for an entire season.
After the CLAIMS have been caught,
they are taken to the shore and open.
ed by being placed in a large pan ol
hot water. great care being taken not
10 have the water too hot, as the
pearls would. in that case. be injured.
After being left in the hot water until
the SHELLS are open, they are then
taken from the water and placed on
sorting bench, where they are care
fully looked over for pearls and bar
oques, and the different kinds Of shells
are separated. The average find in
pearls and baroques of medium quality
per season amounts TO about $400.-
La Place Bostwick in Memphis Com
mercial Appeal.