The new era., 1910-06-30

but 10 to Is minutes. while in SO feet OF water
r he might be seen moving about on the bottom
for several hours. ,---~- 3
The pearl shells from these waters are not
as large as those of Ceylon. but run from 5000
to 1000 to the ton. The true pearl oyster. the
Meleagrina OF the Indian and south Pacific
oceans, varies in diameter from two to eight
inches, according to age six inches being the
average. One diver working with helmet and
air pump can secure many as $4,000 oysters
in season. The greater part of the shell from
the La Paz fisheries is shipped to San Fran
cisco, while most of the pearls go to Mexico City
and Paris. In 1908 the production of these fish
Il cries was valued at $5000,000. the pearls repre-
senting 100000 and the motherofpearl shell
the balance.
According to DR.. George F. Kunz one of the
worlds greatest authorities on pearls pearl
OF the first water should possess perfect skin
fine orient or delicate texture, be free from
specks or flaws and be Of a translucent white
color, with subdued iridescent sheen. 1t
should also be perfectly spherical or, II not of
symmetrical pear shape. White or pink pearls
are the finest, owing to their delicate sheen
Sometimes the outer layer can be removed the
subjacent surface revealing a finer skin than
the outer one, and in this way pearl may be
improved Ea,
The Lower California pearls are of great
variety Of shapes and color, round, pear shaped
button pearl or fat on one SIDE barooue. or
pearl OF irregular shape, and in color ranging
from white and pink. to blue. green, brown and
black Some very famous pearls of history have
been taken from these waters L
With hardly an exception there are American
pearls among the crown Jewels of every ruler of
Europe. In 1882 at the worlds fair in Paris,
there was exhibited set Of seven black pearls
from these Mexican fisheries. valued at S22 900
at that time. and today worth much more, One
of the largest pearls ever found here was sold
In Paris to the emperor of Austria for $40 900
and the Spanish government presented Napo.
leon III. with black Mexican pearl valued at
$25.000
In Venezuela the principal oyster beds are
located around the island of Margarita, which
word in Spanish means pearl and at Cubagua.
Ell Tirano, Gulf Of Paria and Coro Porlamar.
Maracapana and Macanao SO that this part of
Venezuela became known to the early span
iards as the Pearl coast
OF the Pearl islands of Panama bay, Rev
island is the largest Of the group The only
village Of any size among these islands is San
Miguel. old the fisheries themselves. the
tower of its little masonry church being thickly
naid with beautiful nacreous shells from the
fishing grounds on all sides. 3,
From the United States and Canada come
the fresh-water pearls. which are produced prin.
cipally by the Unio, a species Of mussel com.
mon to all the mountain streams throughout
the country, although a pearl may be found in
any mollusk having ,nacreous Interior lining
Pearls have been brought to, the New York
market from almost every state In the Union and
Canada, principally from Ohio. Indiana, Illinois.
Kentucky. Missouri. Arkansas, Michigan, Mime.
sofa, Tennessee and Mississippi.