The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-09

began to be recognized industry. Pearls
of value and in considerable quantities
began to come into the New York mar
ket, but the principal sources were the
! streams of the Central and Southern
States. IN the summer of 1889 several
discoveries of fine pearls were made at
about the same time in the Southwestern
corner of the State of Wisconsin. These
pearls were extraordinarily lustrous, and
many besides were of most beautiful
color. There was the usual scramble by
the natives. every one of whom momen-
tarily expected to find the gem, the sale
of which should relieve him from the
necessity of further activity for life. So
vigorous and persistent were the efforts
of the people of these districts that the
streams in large sections were quite de-
nuded of their mussels. The result, how
ever, was the establishment of a perma-
nent industry in connection with the clam
fishing, which centers at the present time
at Prairie du Chen, near the middle OF
the State OF Wisconsin. This industry is
the collection of the pearl shells for the
manufacture of pearl buttons. The i'm
portance of the industry is increas-
ing annually. In 1905 a special report
was issued by the Census Bureau which
showed that the value of the buttons
manufactured in the United States for
the year was $10,074,S72, more than e. per
cent OF which were pearly buttons. There
were in the country at that time 275 but
ton factories. 1t is plain that the clam
fisherman with his dredge or rake has a
source of steady income which is of vast
ly greater Importance to him than is the
precarious chance of gaining sudden
wealth through the finding of a perfect
pearl.
But the pearl fisheries of the Missis-
sippi river and its tributaries assumes
much greater proportions than is gen.
orally supposed. They continually en-
ploy the labor of more than 1,OO0 persons
In 1901 a single firm is stated to have
bought from these fishermen gems to
the value of $4,000.
Buttons Main Product.
The serious business of pearl fishing.
OF rather clam fishing, long ago settled
down to regard the shell from which
buttons are made as the principal end of
its search; and the pearl, II from time to
time it shall chance to be found, as a
mere gratuity. a piece of good luck.
The shells are delivered at the factories
where the buttons are made at from 30 to
so cents a huudredweight. The manner
of making the pearl buttons is, roughly.
as follows: The CLAIMS are first cooked
and the meat removed. The shells are
then cooked from three to six days to
render them less brittle; otherwise they
will crumble in the cutting process.
While still wet, the shells are pressed
against hollow cylindrical steel saws,
which cut out the blank buttons of the
required size. The blanks are then held
against a revolving emery wheel which
trues them up and removes the dark
skin. The blank Is next turned in a lathe
and finally bored. The machinery for
these various operations has undergone
steady Improvement. and some firms
have been obliged to change their equip
nent every year for several years con-
secutiveiy to keep abfeast of progress in
the business. II is confidently stated.
however, by those who are interested.
that the Industry Is still In its infancy.