The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

.aar,s are many. One authority claims
that the pearl is a disease OF tne
oyster. but the most accepted one Is
that a grain of sand. particle OF
rock or coral or even tiny piecs
mud finds its way between the sn0--
and causes an irritation Inc oSs.S.
must drink now and then, ana eNea
though II opens its double doors
yerv little wav the sea water SaSneS
IN a grain or two of sand that MAKES
it decidedly uncomfortable. just %
zoon as the ragged atom begins 10 cut
and hurt its flesh il contrlVes 10 W.
come its enemy by returning gooo AOi
evil. In the oysters body there Is
little store OF clean and precious nuld
with which it makes its mother o pearl
on its shell. So it pours little OF the
nacre gently over the grain OF sano
and makes 1t smooth and round ana
white. After this the annoyance and
the pain cease, for the sharp, rugged
points are neatly and nicely covered
In a beautiful. snowy case. And TINS IS
what we call a pearl SUCH IS the
ovster's revenge Instead Of fighting
the little foe that hurts 1t so cruelty,
II closes and heals its wound with a
pearl.
Sometimes a pearl will become at
tached to the inner surface OF the
shell, and, II left undisturoed, the nsn
will probably incorporate 1t with the
shell itself by depositing layer arter
layer OF nacre over 1t
The result is called blister" and
a. by the way, a delightful uncer-
tafnty. for they do not necessarily
contain pearls. Anything that the fish
objects to, but which it cannot get rid
of. is built into the shell whether 1t
Is good or bad This watchword or the
pearler is hope, and 1t Is for this rea-
son that pearl-buyers and spectators
frequently purchase promising DIS
fer at a high price, trusting TO ind
valuabl. gem. Should the hope be
realized, and occasionally 1t Is. the
hidden pearl may possibly be worth
ten times the amount paid. But, on
the other hand. nothing more precious
than bit Of hardened mud may dis
close itself.
1T Is difficult sometimes to believe
that black magic has not been used
when a single pearl turns out to be a
handsome smooth one by few mystic
strokes. Yet in the hands OF an ex-
pert apparently worthless pearls are
sometimes quickly converted into val
liable gems Sometimes after the
fashion Of an onion. 1t is possible to
remove skin after skin until either
good pearl Is disclosed or a piece OF
nacre proved TO be utterly worthless.
For instance, I saw q rough, ugly
lump reduced from over a hundred
grains to fifty-seven grains and the re-
suit was q beautiful drop pearl which
was sold for about $4,000.
The pearl fishing industry Is carried
on altogether by Asiatio labor, such
as Japanese, Fflipinos, Chinese and
South Sea Islanders. Some few are i'm
ported from the Singapore or Dutch
Government for a term OF three
years, and after their contracts have
expired they must be returned to their
government.
The white" man as we call him.
could not be induced to work for the
same wages that these natives do. for
they are perfectly happy and consider
themselves lucky II they draw down
the princely amount Of 20 cents day.
The diver is the onlv high-priced en-
ploye, and for his services he receives
the immense sum of s15 a month
and an additional 500 for every ton
of shell that he raises. A good ex-
perienced deep water diver will raise
as much as six tons OF shell during
the seasons work, or about nine
months. So you see, he really makes
in the neighborhood OF 800 a year.
ing the boat and looking after the
divers life line, gets SIS also, though
that Is the extent Of his wages, as he
receives no percentage. The crew,
who comprise a diver, tender, a cook
ana four sailors. are not permitted to
go ashore during their contract with
out a written order from their mas
ters. and as the laws are very strict
upon this subject. they have no par
ticular fondness for the shore and are
perfectly contented and willing to re-
main peacefully at home.
Getting and retaining good divers
Is a strenuous bit OF business and as
SO much depends upon them, 1t is an
all important one. He knows TO a T
what localities have been raked. and
the master pearler Is able to figure. TO
q certain degree, on his profits. But
to do ell this he frequently has the