Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-14
HUNTING FOR PEARLS
Features of an Industry That Is
to Be Safeguarded.

Gdlul Go VI all itiuNSN iuos ~
to Be Safeguarded.
FORTUNES MADE IN A DAY.
vineennes Qnd.) Mussel Digger Found
a Pearl This Season Worth $1,5oo.
Plan of Pearl Dealers to Save Fish
cries Threatened With Destruction.
Pearl dealers of the Maiden lane dis
trict in New York have started a
movement to save the western pearl
fisheries from the destruction that IS
threatened because there is now no
restriction on the work of the fishermen
who are taking from the rivers tons
of mussels from which only few
pearls are obtained. 1t is also pro-
posed to restock some Of the rivers,
eastern and western, from which the
mussels have been exterminated. A
petition was recently sent to Washing
ton asking for an investigation of
present conditions affecting the mus
sells In the western rivers and the fea-
sibility of establishing hatcheries In
which the fish may be propagated, as
In the case of various kinds of food
Ash.
In view of this movement the fol-
lowing article on pearl hunting In
Indiana is Of timely interest:
4s.c ,Jo,, 1nh 40 oh ys&v
ing the last summer rivaled the SEN
sational days when men journeyed
TO the west by the hundreds to gain
great wealth In. the gold mines. This
sumner along the Wabash small for
tunes have been made In single
day, and number Of mussel diggers
have picked up pearls worth 5000 or
$500, says the indianapolis Star.
Encouraged by this success, pearl
hunting has come to be one Of the
most favored Industries along the In
diana water course. The most success
full find perhaps made SO far during
the season was that Of Vincennes
factory employee. He started out one
day to enjoy a two weeks vacation.
When he returned he carried pearl
which is worth 81, ECO and perhaps ST.
600.
During the last four or five years
Vincennes has been the center Of
dourishing pearl industry. The amount
Of pearl money circulating now will
run about $4,000 a month. When the
Wabash field first attracted the atten-
ton Of the mussel diggers 1t was
thought to be only poor one. Tx
perts making their examination about
ave years ago said that the mussels
would be good for the pearl button
factories only, and for awhile the ac-
tiviV was but slight. A few months
had passed when experts decided to
make closer examinations, and these
revealed hidden treasures. The news
spread rapidly. and mussel men focked
there from all parts Of the country.
Vincennes Is the center of the Wa
bash district, and while the industry
has died out in the southern portions 1t
is still prospecting at Vincennss. Now
there are perhaps q hundred diggsrs
trying their luck In hunting for pearls
within the immediate vicinity. Some
twenty-five camps are to be found
along the banks Of the picturesque
river, while the number Of 'scockcuts'
will perhaps reach total Of fifty. The
men are busy, and the scenes are mos1
Interesting, as each digger Is anxious
to improve every minute lest hi
neighboring hunter may make the find,
of value.
While the diggers depend largely OF
their finding of pearls for their "for
tune" they also receive neat sums TO
the shells. In the course Of q yea
thousands of cars Of these shells ar,
shipped out of Vincennes. They ar
used in the button industry. Will
diggers receive not little money TO
these shells, they regard that as onl.
secondary business and are Of cours
most anxious to make the finds tina
have given SO many comfortable for
tunes. In the four or five years tina
Vincennes has enjoyed the pearl boon
many valuable finds have been made
and not few Of the most valuaDl
pearls have been placed in foreig,
markets.
Since the industry first opened a
Vincennes quite few laborers hav
realized small fortunes by lucky finds
and the one man to make this season
biggest is Leon Bouchner. He ha
been employed at glass factory, an,
when the plant closed down some few
weeks ago he decided to spend his va
cation in digging mussels. Luck seem
ed to be with him, and few days ag
he made the biggest find of the seaso
when he discovered gem that is wort
$1,000 at least and possibly $1,000.
He will not place the beautiful peal
on the Vincennes market, but will tax
1t out of the city, where he hopes t
realize the $1,000 if possible. His peal
weighs over forty grains and is abou
an inch in circumference. 1t was foun
just below Vincennes in what Is know
rs three ridge mussel, which he ha
been cooking with a bunch which b
regarded as yalueless.
White river has also been good feel
for the pearl industry, and humble
Of good finds have been reported fror
different places along this water cours'
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