Milford chronicle., 1915-08-13
Lure OF THE PEARL
Long Chances Taken by Fishers
For Fresh Water Gems.
ALL ARE BELIEVERS IN LUCK.
A MusseI That Holds the Coveted Prize
Looks Just the Same as One That
May 5o Worthless, and Thousands
May Be Opened In Vain.

( The pearl fishermen of the Upper
White river in Arkansas are the mos
; hopeful of mOrtals. ever dreaming OF
{ picking from curiously shaped shells
big pearls of such value as 10 sweep
them into the realms of prosperity at
one grand stroke. They are optimists
and true gamblers that worship at the
throne of the goddess Of luck. A thou
sand shells may not contain as much
as Il worthless slug. The next one
they open may contain rare gem
worth thousands of dollars. They are
ready and willing to take the chance
They may come out to the good or they
may come out mosquito bitten, full of
malaria, with trembling knees.
The pearl fisher of the Upper White
is a true sport, as are the buyers.
They are willing to take long odds in
hope of pulling down big stake.
| They are of the same disposition as
the city man who CANDLES on the DO
MES or Of the miner who follows his
pick underground, betting against long
odds and fate that he will win.
They are optimistic and hopeful, and
1t is impossible to discourage them
They are believers in luck and as
strong in their faith as a Quaker.
Every pearl fisher has his favOrite
among the pearl bearing mussels. Some
like the washboard a long rough she'll
Others like the niggerhead, small |
round shell, black and rough. Others |
cling with inborn faith to the spectacle, |
a long shell. shaped much like spec |
table case, while others hold to the
fantail and mucket. 1t is only mat
ter Of fancy, however. all are pearl
bearing if they have passed through
the right conditions that go to make
the pearl.
The chance Of finding one Of these
rests with luck and luck alone, for
there are some 500 different kinds of
fresh water mussels that bear pearls
A large majority Of these are to be
found In the White river. A mussel
with pearl In it looks just the same
as one that has none, and it is simply
A matter of opening them to determine
which one carries valuable gem.
The equipment of White river pearl
Usher ranges in value from several
hundred dollars down to nothing.
Really one can start in with nothing
)ut an old knife or sharp edged instru
nent with which to open the shells.
f man can get the opening tool he
an always find a partner with a gunny
ack and that is all that he needs to
700 fortune with. He can use the
nife on the bank to open the shells
With, his partner gathering them from
he bed of the river in shallow places
arrying them to him on the bank
ou don't have to get permission
ither to go to work. Uncle Sam
oesn't charge cent. Just find a place
nd get busy. This applies. however. =
My to some unOccupied mussel bed. r
there is some one else at work on q
ed when You arrive and he is larger
ian you, leave him alone 1t is his
' might and right Of discovery, and
Iese are two Of the natural laws gov.
ming operations among the pearl fish
s Of the Upper White.
The pearls found on the White river
e Of good luster and bring fancy
ices when free from flaws. They are
many shapes and sizes. The slugs
e the most worthless and seldom
ing over 81. Baroques, which are
lgs but which have a fine luster,
ing up as high as S25 or $50. True
arls, those Of a definite shape-ball
al. pearl shaped, drop or button -
ing prices up to as high as $1,000 If r
ey possess the size, color and luster.
Besides these there is the peeler. A
eler is a pearl with rough exterior e
1t may have a smooth interior when
: rough outside covering is peeled Z
ay. Peeling is the biggest gamble
the industry. A buyer may pick up 3
;em for a few dollars, risk his judg- Z
mt on it and peel out a gem worth
'eral hundred. Again he may ruin
md lose all. mn
or the past four years, which have add
n extremely dry ones, pearl fishing
been general. and the mussel beds
e been greatly depleted.-Washing- &.
Post.