Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-25

the fisheries OF Ceylon or those of the Persian
gulf. Columbus and those who followed IN his
wake often found uncivilized natives wearing
pearls OF great value. Indeed, so many pearls
were found off the Venezuelan coast that early
explorers gave the name of "El Gulfo de las
Perlasr to certain waters where the pearls ap
peared to be plentiful.
Today the pearl fisheries of Margarita lsiand'
off the Venezuelan coast, become active each au-
tumn, when hundreds of small boats present
scene not unlike that of the pearl season OF Call
fornia Ceylon.
MANY of the expert divers of Venezuela have
engaged themselves to Ecuadorian company
which is developing pearl fishing along the coast
of that country. Near the little port Of Manta
the results have proved quite satisfactory, and
during a recent year about 100000 worth OF
pearls shipped to European markets.
About the shores of numerous Islands in the
Bay of Panama there are pearl fisheries. One or
these islands, to which the name of Pearl has
been given. has long been supplying pearls OF
greater less value. The work about this and
other islands of Panama bay is carried on like
that of Lower California. One of the great diff.
culties encountered is the heavy tides of this
section of the Pacific, which prevent steady work.
There are various other sections of the oceans
that supply fine pearls. such as the shore Of
Queensland tAustralia). the Red sea, New Guinea
waters, about the island of Madagascar, and
elsewhere. Generally speaking ordinary fish
ing boat party expects to secure several tons OF
shells a day. and possibly one shell in thousand
contains a pearl The Mexican waters in which
the fleet is active four to six months in the year
beginning operations in the autumn. pear,ing
expedition as equipped for the Mexican waters
often costs $4,000 to $4,000 to outfit, and pos.
sbly at the end of the season the catch may not
be worth half the amount expended. But II
mishap occurs to any of the little vessels the
supply OF motherof-pearl shells obtained should
be of sufficient value to repay the general
fitting expenses.
One of the allied industries of pearl fishing is
that of obtaining valuable shells. which know
as motherof-pearl. The latter are found gener-
ally along with the pearl fisheries; and often
when no pearls exist within the oyster the shells
themselves may be of considerable value.
Mother-of-pearl is defined the internal ma
creous lining of the molluscan SHE'LL. This shell,
as is well known is in general use in homes
where it is highly priced for toilet articles, for
handles to knives, for buttons, and countless
other services where high polish and lasting
qualities are desired The monks and other in
habtants of Bethlehem said to be among the
worlds most skilled workers in mother of-pearl
shells; the beautiful ornaments that come from
that ancient city are highly valued in leading
cities of Europe and America.
Pearls in the Americas, in other countries
should now be within the reach of those of mod
est means Today in world markets OF London
Bombay Paris La Paz the pearl is selling for
about half its ordinary value.
It is said that pearls from waters OF the Amer
icas are to be seen in the crowns of most Euro