Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-07-09
Profitable Pearl Culture.
The SUBMARINE Work Done BY JAPANESE
WOMEN.

Maryland Building, Panama Pacific Inter
national Exposition, San Francisco, Cal.
June 26th, 1915.
Mr.. Editor:-After many visits through
the wondrous exhibits at the Panama
Pacific International Exposition in search
of something new and interesting to the
people of Maryland. have finally come
upon the one thing that is unique, the
creation of Japanese student. This sub
ject wish to bring to the attention of
Marylanders, whose State is the home of the
Chesapeake oysters-it is the culture of
pearls.
While visiting one of the Palaces this
morning in company with W, W. Marsh.
Democratic Committeeman of Iowa, and
Governor Clark of that State. we happened
upon Japanese booth and was imme-
diately interested in the display of the
culture of pearl in oysters from the Far
East. There we learned that a young
Japanese student, Mr.. Kokichi Mikimoto.
hdu uhoNONVlCu DIOukilt " a huCGCSSIul
cultivation the precious Mollusc.
In early times, people had all sorts of
ridiculous and extravagant ideas about the
way in which pearls were produced. Even
so learned a man as Pliny believed that
they were drops of dew. which. falling
into the gaping mouth of the Molusc. were
transformed by the animals power into
pearls. Aeolian thought that pearls were
produced by lightning flashing into the
open shells. But these fantastic, though
interesting, theories have long since been
dispelled
The pearl oyster cultivated on the ground
belongs to the species Margaritifera Nor
tinsi, or true pearl oyster obtained in this
locality and found more or less in all parts
of Japan. 1t closely resembles the Indian
species found near the Gulf of Manaar.
The method used. as was explained to us,
was much like our own oyster culture. but
while we have our own natural rock and
bars. the Japanese put down clutch for
the purpose of catching the spat. This
spat is carefully treated and fed under the
water. When the oyster is three years old
it is taken up by diving women. 1t will
probably interest the reader to know that
large part of the submarine work In the
pearl culture in Japan is done by women
divers They dive without any apparatus
and stay under the water from one to two
minutes at each diving.
The oyster is then opened with much
care and small part Of the shell, say as
large as grain of wheat. called nacre. or
mother of pearl. is put inside the oyster.
This nacre must be Of the same specific
gravity as the shell of the oyster. The
oyster is then placed back on its bed and
after four years is again taken up and the
harvest reaped. Pearls so produced range
in value from $3.50 to $40 a piece.
Culture Pearls" are generally found at
tached to the inner surface of the shell.
When detached, they have the appearance
and merit Of the natural pearl and identi-
cal in every respect. They are produced
in three colOrs-white. pink and dark blue
and in rings brooches, scarf pins and in
every other case where button pearls are
used they can be readily employed and
will be found to meet the requirements
perfectly
The fashionable stores in Paris. London
and New York have long since recognized
the value Of the Mikimoto cultured pearls
and have been using them extensively
in the composition Of the finest jewelry.
1t at once struck me that similar in
dustry would be both possible and profit
able in our own waters.
A. j. CUMMINGS.