The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-10-03
PEARL HUNTIN6.
IS PROFITABLE
TO Many
Cook Gets Sis, 600 for Mussels
He Raked Out in a Single
Afternoon.

s lldH NJ
Afternoon.
PAINT ROCK, Tex, oct. 2.-rSarl
fishing in the fsoncho river has brought
big protits to number Of people dur
ing the last few months. For some
unexplained cause the musseIs con-
tain . greater number Of pearls OF
exceptionally high value than ever
known In the hiatory Of the industry.
1t is believed b. some Of the fisher
men that this seasons large supply
OF mussels came from one OF the
small tributaries of the Concho and
that they were washed into the larger
stream by the big food last spring.
What IL said to have been the
largest revenue obtained during the
pearl hunting season, now drawing to
close, was that Of Henry Serford,
who sold his collection of pearls to a
New York buyer for 1920. Serford
came to this section two. years ago
from Arkansas, where he had followed
the pearl fishing business for many
years with considerable Euccess. He
brought along q complete equipment
for getting out the mussels, and he
was able to operate over much
larger area of the river than most Of
the men in the industry. BY means OF
rakes which were attached to q boat,
he collected enormous quantities of
mussels, and he was an expert in
opening the shells. It is stated that
this seasons .catchr was the finest
ever found in the inland waters in
this country.
Fortune In an Afternoon.
There are many instances of quick
rises to considerable fortune by poor
pearl hunters. One case was that Of
Sebe Teblow, who was cook for the
Bar K ranch outfit for Q number Of
years. Two years ago Teblow was
sent out with the chuck wagon dur
ing the spring round UP in one OF the
pastures. through which the Concho
flows. He pitched temporary camp
one day under some giant spreading
pecan trees close to the bank of the
clear water stream. He had most Of
the afternoon to himself and he de-
cided to do some fishing. His atten-
ton was attracted to the great NUM-
Der of mussels that almost paved the
bed Of the stream. He soon tired Of
fishing, and, for want Of something
else to do, he raked out the mussels
with stick aud opened them in search
OF pearls. He found pearls in many
OF the shells. some of them large and
beautiful. By the supper preparing
hour he had accumulated over 100.
He knew little Of the value Of the
pearls; 1t was his idea that he might
be able to sell them for enough to take
a layon and go to San Antonio or Fort
Worth on vacation trip. He said
nothing about the gems to his cow
boy associates, but continued to cook
for the outfit until the end OF the
season when he rode into
San Antonio and showed his bag OF
pearls to q local jeweler there.
How much are these things
worth?" he asked.
$4,000 Cash.
The jeweler answered that he was
not enough OF an expert to pass upon
their value, but a Boston pearl buyer
would be in town ma few days and
he would submit the collection to him.
In due time the buyer arrived and he
went over the pearls, and when Teb-i
low called to get his verdict the buyer
said to him:
Ell give you $4,000 cash for the
collection"
The most tina. Teblow had expected
to get for the lot was SIS. He accepted
the offer on the spot. N
Teblow invested the money in an
improved stock farm up near the head
waters Of the Colorado river. His sud-
den rise to wealth caused cowboys
and others from far and near to flock
to the banks Of the Concho to hunt
for pearls, but no such finds as that
OF Teblow we're made by any Of them.
Seasons Yield, 100000.
1t is estimated that this seasons
yield Of pearls from the Concho will
aggregate In value considerably mors
than 100000. Before the outbreak
of the European war. buyers for sew
eral French houses visited the diff
ferent pearl fishing camps each fall,
but this year American concerns are
taking practically all OF them.
The camps Of pearl hunters are scat
tered along the banks of the stream.
for more than 100 miles. Men, Won en-
and children are often employed in
the work. Mixed with the profess.
sional and expert pearlers are many,
amateurs. Some Of the land owners
whose properties border the stream
have barred pearl hunters from their
premises in order to protect the mus
sells and make them a source Of pri-
vate revenue. The question las aris-
en- whether or not. mussels which are
found in the bed Of the river are pub
lie property. the same as fish, and the
question may gogto the courts for de-
Termination. 800