The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-22
CALL CORAL PRECIOUS STONES
IMPORTERS SEEK 70 BUILD UP
A CARVING TRADE HERE.

As Precious stones the Duty Would De Much
Lower ant Moreover n Would Come
In Free n Unmanufactured Japan
Now Rivals Italy In the Business.
To rave coral classified. from a customs
point of view, as precious stone Ia the OBJ
ject Of a movement recently started by a
number Of the most prominent importing
firms. There has been this year a notable
revival Of the use Of fine coral for iewelry
purposes and efforts are now being made
! to build up a coral carving industry In
New York.
importers have fled with the Board Of
United States General Appraisers protests.
against the classification which the customs
authorities have followed for years in as
sessinR duty on coral which has been cut,
carved or polished for use in making
jewelry. Such articles have been placed
in a list Of manufactures dutiable at 90 per
cent. ad valorem.
The importers now say that they have
been paying 40 per cent. too much and
that the coral should be regarded as a pre-
cious stone, advanced In valus and be duti-
able at 10 per cent. The board will begin
in a few days to take testimony on this
| ISSUE. ~. n Whs1buIh VI NOAiHOOSA
Washburn is to appear for the importers
In a test case.
The importers will contend that coral
when prepared for the purposes OF the
jewellers more nearly resembles cut pre-
cious stones than any other article enum-
Grated in the tariff law. When coral is
made into a completed ornament or strung
IN beads as a necklace il Is always assessed
49, 49, s,-uAlrrr AIa.aan 81
the law. In the rough condition in which
it comes from the tropical seas 1t Ia admitted
into the United States free of duty. as in
the case Of precious stones in the rough.
Another argument will be that various
artificial products. such as reconstructed
rubies, have been held by the courts TO
come within the provision Of the precious
stone clause, and that coral has at least
equal claims. The tariff does not distin-
guish between precious and so-called semi
precious or fancy stones.
The importers will argue that while coral
is not a stone az all it comes as close to one
as does the pearl, which in the iewelry
trade and in ordinary speech is commonly
classed as a precious stone.
Coral has been advancing in price in
the last wear because Of its increased popu-
| IArltV IN LnlS country OtWtliNiF Roy bihe
the question of the amount Of duty TO be
paid is of less real importance to the trade
than than that as to the status which the
article will receive in public estimation as
a result Of the decision of the pending
cases.
Prices of coral have gone up greatly in
the last ten wears. A decade ago the fisher
men, who bring the product IN nets from
a depth of 100 to 300 feet, were glad TO get
s. to so a pound in the rough, but now
49,, lot nor than Aouhla that nTIQa with
much higher figures for choice specimeps.8
As much as 81 900 TO 81 200 Is asked for
necklaces Of the ~favorite japanese rose
colored coral beads. and some oxblood
coral is equally valuable. White coral II OF
rood quality is also ia vored. Not all strings
OF beads are so expensive, and some less
attractive in color and texture may be had
as cheap ar IS or $40.
The C carving of coral il a small industry
ms vet in New York, but those who have
started in this kind Of work say that there
will be a gradual growth. About 10000
nersons are employed in Italy in carving
IN coral beads, miniature heads and a variety
OF novelties, most Of which are now being
made equally artistic, it IL claimed, IN this
CITY. AS most of the work Is performed
with ordinary sharp knive and files not
much capital is required to engage IN the
BUSINESS.
Among the articles which are being i'm
ported from Italy are cora canoes, as tina
Is a particular ly difficult kline of work, in
which the Italians excel. A person buying
a coral neck lace or brooch may require
a likeness to be reproduced in m anc
will furnish a photograph from which tho
carver works. Importers say That an oil
these orders received in New York are filled
in italy. Fine canoes Of this kind cost
as much as SlOO.
A representative Of one Of the firms
importing from Italy said yesterday tina
their chief competitors are the japanese
Al. wuArloHa In Tho tsInn nd Pin
dom went to Italy to buy the rough cora
OF the Mediterranean. Recently the Japen
eee lea med that on their own shores wer,
quantities of the rose colored coral which
now meets the popular taste. Sine thei
h Italians have gone TO JaEAn for tn,
highest grade OF coral. although the Medi
t%errenean supplies are still used to som
extent.