The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-06-26

the fisheries of CeyIon or those of the Persian
gulf, Columbus those who followed IN ms
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 El Gulfo de las
PerIas" 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
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 $4,000 worth OF
pearls were shipped to European markets.
About the shores Of numerous islands in the
Bay of Panama there are pearl fisheries One OF
these islands, to which the of Pearl has
been given, has long been supplying pearls OF
greater less value. The work about this and
other islands of Panama bay is carried on like
that of Lower California. One OF the great d1f1-
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 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 day, and possibly one shell in thousand
contains pearl. The Mexican waters in which
fishing is done from 80 to so feet deep, and
the fleet is active four to six months in the year.
beginning operations in the autumn. pearling
expedition 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-pe 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 know
as mother-ofp pearl. The latter 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-of-pearl is defined the internal ma
creous lining of the molluscan she'll" This shell,
as is well known, is in general in 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 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, in other countries
should now be within the reach of those of mod
est means. Today in world markets Of London
Bombay Paris La Paz the pearl is selling for
about half its ordinary value.
It is said that pearls from waters of the Amer
icas are to be seen in the crowns OF most Euro