Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-24

which abounds in the Seine, the Marine and the
Lorret. The fishes are rubbed rather roughly IN
pure water in large basin. and the water Is
then strained through linen cloth, and the resi-
due is left for several days to settle. The sedi-
ment thus obtained forms the essence OF orient.
1t requires from II 600 to $4,000 fishes to oo-
tain 800 grammes Ga little over pound) OF TINS
substance. The scaly substance is liable to de-
compose quickly, and numerous chemical agents
are employed by different manufacturers to pre-
serve it.
COATED WITH FISH SCALES.
The discovery Of method for preserving the
briancy of fish scales has led to their export
from Restov-on Don, Russia, for the last five or
six wears The fish used small that nets
Of I 100000 TO 100000 strands in the mesh
are used. Seventy-two pounds of fish yield IA
ounces of scales, which are powdered with some
preservative, packed in 10-lb tins hermetcally
sealed. and sent by parcel post TO Berlin, Stettin
and Paris Over eight tons have already been
exported The scales thought to be used for
the making of artificial pearls and similar arti-
cles The trade is growing and st. Petersburg,
Warsaw, Vitelsk and Astraklan have begun to
export.
The process of coloring the pearl is commenced
by lining the interior OF the ball with delicate
laver of perfectly limpid and coloress parchment
glue. and before it is quite dry the essence of
orient is introduced by means of slender blow
nine 1t is allowed to dry the pearl is filled with
wax. and, if intended for necklace. is pierced.
Artificial pearls also made from beads of
opalescent glass filled with gum, the polish of
the glass being reduced by the vapor of hydro
huoric acid Very good limitations of the genu'
inc pearl are made from motherof-pear also.
This material is cut to required shape and polish
ed beautifully, when it has an appearance very
similar to that of the genuine article, though an
expert can readily distinguish the imitation from
the genuine gem.
Imitation pearls manufactured by known pro-
cesses, and more particularly the largest variety,
are too fragile when hollow and too heavy to de-
ceive the gem dealer when sold. The manufac-
ture of pearls of irregular form, termed "baro-
aues" is more costly than that of pearls of reg
ular form IN consequence of which a special
modng process has to be adopted. This pro.
cess obtains artificial pearls having a nacreous
mstre, and, to a high degree, the qualities of
strength and lightness and rregularity of form
which mparts an exact resemblance to genuine
pearl "baroques"
There are at present on the market limitations
OF pearls consisting of a central sphere of china
stone or motherofpear with an outside coating
resembling celluloid in structure, but having a
color and luster that closely Stimulates that OF
genuine pearls. Some of these are made in
spheres and pear shapes too perfect in detail by
| far, but others show defects in form such as are
met with in natural pearls. A simple and quick
way TO detect these limitations is to touch then
to the tongue, upon which they appear warm al
does cellulod aud not cold as do natural pearls
The outer coating may also be easily scrapeC
with sharp knife.