The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-06-26

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 Eel Gulfo de las
Perlas" to certain waters where the pearls ap-
peared to be plentiful.
Today the pearl fisheries Of Margarita island
off the Venezuelan coast, become active each au-
tumn, when hundreds of small boats present a
scene not unlike that of the pearl season OF Cali
fornia or Ceylon.
Many Of the expert divers of Venezuela have
engaged themselves to an Ecuadorian company
which is developing pearl fishing along the coast
of that country. Near the little port Of Mania
the results have proved quite satisfactory, and
during a recent year about 100000 worth or
pearls were 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 or 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 (Australia), the Red sea, New Guinea
waters, about the island of Madagascar, and
elsewhere. Generally speaking, an ordinary fish
ing boat party expects to secure several tons OF
shells a day, and possibly one shell in a thousand
contains a pearl. The Mexican waters in which
hshing is done are from 80 to so feet deep, and
the feet is active four to six months in the year.
beginning operations in the autumn. A pearling
expedition as equipped for the Mexican waters
often costs $4,000 to $4,000 to outfit, and pos
sibly at the end of the season the catch may not
be worth half the amount expended. But If no
mishap occurs to any of the little vessels the
supply of mother-of-pearl shells obtained should
be of sufficient value to repay the general out
fitting expenses.
One of the allied industries of pearl fishing Is
that of obtaining valuable shells, which we 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-ofpearl is defined as the internal ma
creous lining of the molluscan she'll" This shell,
as is well known, is in general use in our homes,
where. it is highly priced for toilet articles. for
handles to knives, for buttons, and countless
other services where a high polish and lasting
qualities are desired. The monks and other in
habitants of Bethlehem are said to be among the
worlds most skilled workers in mother-ofpearl
shells; the beautiful ornaments that come from
that ancient city are highly valued in leading
cities of Europe and America.
Pearls in the Americas, as in other countries,
should now be within the reach of those of mod.
est means. Today in world markets of London,
Bombay, Paris or La Paz the pearl is selling for
about half its ordinary value.
1t is said that pearls from waters Of the Amer
icas are to be seen in the crowns of most Euro