Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-30

Mr.. Kokicbi MIkimoto the owner ~
the pearl farm. ssys he has always
sold his goods az cultured pearls In
one Of his catalogues he described
the process by which he induces the
oysters on his farm 10 make pearls
But he says that he cannot be re-
sponsibie II IN later transactions the
origin 0f the pearl IL lost ~ the only
sure way 70 prove that Mikimofo
pearl IL not Wild pearl IL 10 ca, u
IN half TO show the nucleus, ths
Identity Of q culture pearl Is apt 20 30
lost ne points out.
Pearl Farming.
The system under which Mr.. Mlkl-
motto operates his pearl farm seems
go simple--thOugh he Says Il requires
extreme csre--that Il would be much
copied II he had not protected himself
by patents. His process Is patented
not only In japan but in a number of
other countries az well. He received
/ his patent from the United states
Patent Office in 1911. when he had
just begun 10 get successful roaufs
with round pearls.
His unique pearl farm consists n a
great stretch of leased water and an
Island in the Bay Of Ago. A good deal
of fishing FOR Wild pearls has always
been done IN this locality. Mr.. Mkt
moto chose the place. figuring tha,
conditions should be favorable 20
oyster culture.
Young oysters i've in the beds here
Tor three years. They are then taken
out and an irritaBt. the nucleus for
pearl. Is introduced into the oyster.
The nucleus Is generally = round big
OF mother-of-pean inserted In tho
liver Of the oyster.
The oysters are then parked IN
gelds on the sen bottom. oach shell
being placed a foot or more away from
the next For four 70 six years this
set Of oysters il left there. IN that
time. enough layers Of mother-of-
pearl are deposited by the oyster %
make fairly large pearl. Then w.
: men divers bring up tho oysters and
s the pearls are removed.
e This farming IL not 80 easy az z
sounds. Inserting tho specially pro-
pared bit Of nucleus into the oyster
is delicate work And as in all farm
ing, there are posts and weeds 20 COM
bat. The octopus and starfsh ar-
: two marine animals who enjoy eating
! oysters. Some kinds of seaweed. too.
spread so rapidly as to choke hun
dreds Of oysters leaving the pearls
: half formed. perhaps worthless.
:, In1planting the irritant into the ovr-
j, ter itself. instead Of allowing - I'd
!, become attached to the shell. n,sda
> the round, cultured pearl possible. For
o years, cultured pearls were fat on
one side The nucleus was placed ,e
~ The shell, and the mother-of- pearl sub.
i stance that the oyster formed over
!, IL 10 protect itself fastened it to IN.
= she'll. This made a button pearl. Har
{ pearls Of this sort were mounted or
o a mother Of pearl base and used o.
h rings and other jewelry.
n This sort Of pearl coating has beer
= done for centuries by the Chinese Will
<. tiny images. Little metal Buddhas ar,
placed in the oyster she'll 10 be cOverc,
N over with a pearly coating.
e But Mikimoto was not satisfied Unit
n he had produced round, perfect pearl
# in quantities on his farm. Since then
n the industry has steadily grown an,
q 10 date not even the pronouncemen
= OF the European gem dealers agains
the cultured pearl has caused Nh
J. Mikimoto 20 discharge any OF his oys
II ter farm hands.