The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-25

Thus far the prices of the natural pearls have not been weakened by com petition with the culture pearls, as the former have advanced steadily In the last year. This has been reassuEing to the trade, but still there has been some uneasiness, because nobody can say what might be the result if the clever OrientaIs should succeed in attaining three ends of which they are striving to produce larger pearls, to obtain more attractive shapes and to increase the output.
 Even the skillfuI Japanese have not been able to produce at any time more than a limited number of the culture pearls, the monthly average for last year being a litle less than 1000. An other restriction is in the size of the pearls, which range from twog rfains to fifteen or twenty grains at the most The beautiful pear and ball shapes, made by the oyster when laboring in its usual leisurely manner, have not been duplicated when human energy stirs the mOllusk to action.
 The mother of pearl base is promi- nent feature which determines the shapes of the culture pearl. Although the base is shiny, iridescent surface really attractive in itself, the Japan csc, according to their letters, intend to reduce it relative size, while enlarg- ing the top which is the real pearl. The ultimate object is to make pear shaped and round pearls.
 Maiden lane dealers say that they defy the most expert judges to detect the slightest variation in material and lustre between the top or main portion of the culture pearl and an ordinary pearl. How can there be anl difference except in shape, they ask, since the nacre is all the same and the oyster casts it in onionlike layers whether or not man prods it to it's work.
 Mystery there is, even yet, about the methods used by the little brown men. The customs authorities of the United States have been called upon to decide how the culture pearls are made and 1 General Appraiser T. S. Sharrets sev- eral months ago reported the result of his Investigations.
 While admitting that some doubt , exists, he said that the pearls seem to l be made by inserting into the mollusk' s small piece of mother of pearl, causing the oyster to secrete the nacrous i- 1 quid on the end of the intruding plug, which becomes the base of the gem. This is quite close to natures ways | according to the opinions of the scien- tific men. An old theory accounting for the birth of a pearl was that a para site in the flesh of an oyster was the centre about which the nacre was thrown in layers.
 Then came the explanation that grains of sand intruding inside the shell were the exciting cause, round which the precious sheen is spread by the oyster in the effort to protect it. self. Within a few months there has been advanced the idea that the larave of boring tapeworm are the intrud- CTS that become the pearl centres.
 How to initiate more closely than does the present method the operation of the larae; parasite or grain of sand is the real problem before the Japanese who want to produce round and peai shaped pearls These shapes are found rule, imbedded in the flesh of the oyster, while others are likely to grow on the inside surface of the sheel, pro- viding large part of the half pearls much used in jewelry.
 The Japanese output is offered fol the most part as a substitute for the half pearl, of which vast quantities are in constant demand. The admirers o1 the culture pearls say that the unifor-
 nity in the classified shapes and sizes in which they are offered is a strong recommendation in their favor. The natural half pearl command about double the price of culture pearl oi the same size.
 Three shapes are seen in Japanese pearls, some with fiat backs, others with button-like backs and 8 third class with round back. Each class ir three colors, pure white, pink and black The manufacturing jewellers set them in rings, brooches, lockets and 8 var. iety of other ornaments.
 An indication of the activity of the Japanese in trying to improve upon their product is seen in a five strand necklace of apparently round pearls re- gently received by a. wholesale house This is said to be the first specimen oi this kind of work vet received from