The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-09-15
LURE OF THEPEARL
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 Be Worthless, and Thousands
May Be Opened In Vain.
: The pearl fishermen Of the Upper
White river in Arkansas are the most
hopeful Of mortals, ever dreaming Of
picking from curiously shaped smells
big pearls Of such value as to sweep
them into the realms Of prosperity at
one grand stroke. They are optimtsts
and true gamblers that worship at the
throne Of the goddess Of luck A thou
sand shells may not contain as much
as a 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 mite
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 po-
nies 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
It Is impossible to discourage them.
They are believers in luck and as
strong in their faith as Quaker.
Every pearl fisher has his faYor1te
among the pearl bearing mussels. Some
Ike the washboard, a long rough shell.
Others like the niggerhead, q small
round shell, black and rough Others
cling with inborn faith to the spectacle,
a long shell, shaped much like a spec
table case, while others hold to the
fantail and mucket. 1t Is only a 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 a 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 a valuable gem
The equipment Of White river pearl
fisher ranges IN value from several
hundred dollars down to nothing.
Really one can start in with nothing
but an old knife or sharp edged tnstru-
ment with which to open the shells.
II man can get the opening tool he
,an always find q partner with gunny
sack and that Is all that he needs to
WOO fortune with. He can use the
Knife on the bank to open the shells
with. his partner gathering them from
the bed Of the river In shallow places,
carrying them to him on the bank.
You don't have to get permission,
aither, to 60 to work. Uncle Sam
Doesn't charge cent. Just find place
and get busy. This applies, however,
only to some unoccupied mussel bed.
Il there Is some one else at work. on q
bed when you arrive and he Is larger
than you, leave him alone. It is his
BY might and right Of discovery, and
-hese are two-of the natural laws gov
,rning operations among the pearl fish,
ers Of the Upper White
The pearls found on the White river
are Of good luster and bring fancy
prices when free from flaws. They are |
# many shapes and sizes. The slugs |
Ire the most worthless and seldom !
bring over 81. Baroques, which are
,lugs, but which have q fine luster,
oring up as high as S25 OK $50. True
pearls, those Of a definite shape-bal,
oval, pearl shaped, drop or button
oring prices up to IS high as 5000 II
hey possess the size, color and luster.
Besides these there Is the peeler. a
,eeler Is a pearl with a rough exterior
hat may have smooth interior when
he rough outside covering Is peeled
lway. Peeling is the biggest gamble
n the industry. 4 buyer may pick up
gem for a few dollars. risk his judg-
nent on it and peel out a gem worth
ereral hundred. Again he may ruin
and lose all
For the past four years, which have
,een extremely dry ones, pearl fishing
las been general, and the mussel beds
ave been greatly depleted.-Washing-
On Post.