St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-04-16
PEARLS BEING FOUND
IN LAKES ON BORDER
OF PELICAN STATE.
Arkansas and Texas Waters
Also Giving Up the Valu-
able Gems.

Shreveport, La, April 1l.-PearIs
are being found in the lakes lying on
the borders Of Louisiana, Arkansas
and Texas in paying quantities. AZ
yet the finds have not been sufficient
to attract any widespread attention,
though buyers have been attracted
to the scene from New York. Mem
phis and St. Louis.
The largest gem found sold for
5000, though the majority Of the
pearls located SO far have been cheaper
and the commercial value Of many Of
them has not been fixed. as they are
still held by those 50 fortunate as to
locate the gems hide in the shells
which were picked up along the
banks Of The Caddo lakes.
The fact that pearls existed in the
Caddo lakes was discovered about two
years ago, when the lakes lying ii
the extreme northwest corner Of
Louisiana, and serving as a State line
for Arkansas and Texas, became I'M
usually low and the waters receded
to the deeper portions Of the lakes.
The oil fields, which practically
surround the lakes, had attracted a
large number Of people to the lakes,
and these passing TO and fro were at
tracted by the large number Of mus
sci shells left exposed by the reced-
ing waters. One driller reported
finding a pearl on the sand. This
brought forth considerable search,
and the result was the finding d
several hundred gems in ashort time.
Since this time hunters On the
lakes, for they afford the best duck
shooting IN North Louisiana, often
stoop down, pick up a mussel and
force open the shell, looking for d
pearl seereted within its lips.
0ftentimes they are successful and
the result is that many citizens Of
Shreveport are now wearing pearls
which they found while spending a
day hunting or fishing on the lakes.
POT HUNTERS FIND GEMS.
Professional hunters and fishers
or as they are commonly called pot
hunters-compose the larger portion
Of the population on the Caddo lakes,
and these have brought a large num-
Der Of pearls to Shreveport and sold
them for most any price. Others
have turned the larger specimens
over TO local jewelers. to handle and
the result is New York, Memphis and
and St. Louis dealers have been IN
duced to send buyers to Shreveport,
and these have paid as high as $500
for a single pearl.
The gems up to the present time,
are pink and pure white, with the
pink ones greatly in excess Of the
more valuable white gems.
As yet the industry is but IN its
infancy and no one has given special
time and attention to pearl hunting
on the lakes.
t is claimed BY those familiar with
the situation, however, that If some
one with the capital will enter the
business and locate the bed Of button
mussels-that IS the white variety
there is not only q chance Of much.
money from the pearls which may be
found, but at the same time an as
sured fortune from the pearl button
business.
The caddo lakes are d clain If
fresh Waser lakes lying IN the extreme
northwest corner Of Louisiana. They
form the eastern border Of Texas on
the D side and extend northward
into Arkansas. They cover many
square miles Of land and are still The
property Of The United States govern
ment, though there have been efforts
to file mineral claims On them BY gas
and Oh prospectors though The gov
eminent has declined to allow any
patents.
The greatest quality of pearls il
generally found in summer, when the
waters are Low and the mnssels are