Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-08-10

II the truth were known about NAV,
Of the pearls that we see nowadays. wo
would discover that fair snare of thor,
even among the expensive ones, came
from the Mississippi river or its tribn-
taries Pearl hunting in these localities
has become an established business. ana
regular pearl prospectors are examining
rivers and creeks with a view to locating
beds of mollusks that may contain vain
ables. Attention to the rare pearls IN
be found in these streams was 6rst
called about 20 years ago, when large
numbers Of pearl producing mollusks
were found in a small creek in Dane
county, Wisconsin. The farmers began
searching the beds of streams with such
success that thousands OF pink, purple
and blue tinted treasures were sold
bringing in a profit Of many thousands
OF dollars. The excitement that pre-
vailed at that time gradually died down
but enthusiasm has broken out again in
localities bordering on the Mississippi
There Is a fascination about the bust
ness that smacbs strongly of specula-
ton for man may find any time a gen,
that may mean fortune. The men
who live this outdoor life are rugged and
healthy, and each carries a tin box, which
in one season may become the receptacle
for holding thousands of dollars worth
of large and small pearls. The pearl
hunters have learned to be experts In
valuing their finds. and few gems sell
at small prices. Generally they are sent
east to lapidaries to be valued and are
sold at once, for the pearl hunter knows
that he does well to avoid the middle
man. who is sent out by eastern firms
to gather the finds" Some pearls are
sold for a thousand dollars, and a neck
lace 28 inches in length made of small
Mississippi pearls for the great singer
Nordica, who desired a souvenir Of Min
neapolis, cost $1,000
Pearl hunting is an exact science and
the successful hunters are skilled in the
business. Usually the prospector has
boat, which he allows to drift with the
tide. Behind this is fastened a long pole
to which is attached hundreds Of lines
with bait on the ends. The mollusks
close their mouths over these with ten
acity and as they are hauled in as soon
the lines are filled many bushels are OBJ
tained daily. This is the easiest part Of
the process. The next operation is to
open them, which, II done with an oyster
knife, is so laborious that 1t lives long in
the memory of the novice. On this ac-
count most prospectors either steam the
mollusks over a mild fire or spread them
out in the sun to slowly dry when the
two parts Of the shell separate readily
/ The exciting moment comes when the con-
| tents of the shell are divulged, for much
| or nothing hangs on the revelation.
In fact. this Insignificant looking, dirty
| clam that may contain a treasure of
value is an object of interest in itself.
| Content to lie in almost any kind Of
/ water, living on animalcules very pro-
/ life, and a pearl producer, he travels
slowly back and forth from mid-stream
to shore unless ne is gobbled up by the
musi1rat, who loves him dearly and eats
him, pearl and all. The pearls are always
near the shells. and can be squeezed out
Of the meat with the fingers. Sometimes
they are found loose in the shell and at
| other times they are attached to It
II loose, the chances are that they may
fall out, and good pearl hunters on this
| account search the bed of the stream
and even dig up the dirt to see what will
| pan out
Contrary to general belief, the expen-
| sive pearls are not always round or OBJ
long in shape. Many fine specimens are
| "baroques." that is, they assume gro
tesque forms, fact that can be ac-
counted for by their origin, for scientists
| tell US that pearl is really a malforma-
| ton caused by some foreign substance
finding entrance to the shell and irritat-
ing the mollusk to such an extent that
he exudes a liquid which hardens and
eventually becomes precious pearl.
| To the casual observer, pearl hunting
seems the easiest way in the world to
earn living, but IT must be remembered
| that not one in so of the right species
contains a pearl, and many moliusKS arr
so light colored that they are known to
be valueless, and are thrown away with
out being opened. It is a 1lit-and-miss
sort Of business, into which many start
Those that remain to the end get a good
living and every summer finds so many
engaged in the work that pearl hunting
has become one Of the established means
Of livelihood in the Mississippi valley
-IScientihc American.