Evening star., 1922-02-19
BY WALDO FRANKS.
BIVALVE, N. j., February II.


JAPANESE claims to discovering
the secret of producing pearl
IL bearing oysters and OF being
the first to establish pearl
oyster beds are challenged here by
local oystermen.
Instead Of the japanese having dis
covered the method of feeding oysters
to produce pearls of priceless value,
they are charged with being imitators
who obtained the idea from local
oystermen. who six years ago con-
Quoted more or less successful ex-
periments in growing pearl-produc-
ing oysters.
Prof. J. b Reichert, until recently
In charge Of original biological ex-
detrimental work at the University or
Pennsylvania and who several years
ago startled the scientific world by
demonstrating that the blood OF each
human differs from that of his fell
lows to such an extent that identif-
cation by means Of bloodstains Is
possible, is credited by the oystermen
with suggesting the idea OF pearl
production by means of special feed
ing of seed oysters
His idea was taken UP by Adam
McWade, who for years has been in
terested in the oyster beds Of the
Norris river cove section. Six years
ago Mcwade planted small bed Oh
oysters where he could control con-
ditions and began feeding them TOT
pearl production. While he was con-
Quoting the experiment ne had IN MS
employ Japanese. The lat
ter became so interested in the work
that he was permitted to take Charge
of all of the details. Five years ago
! he returned to Japan. McWade later
found that his bed of ''pearl-bearing
OYSTERS contained only culls. A few
of the latter, however, have developed
formations suggestive of pearls.
Among the specimens Of these
srowths in his possession two pre-
sent an almost perfect spherical form'
but lack the brilliancy of the pearl.
He terms them ''blisters," which TOR
some reason failed to develop prop
erly or were not given sufficient time
to complete growth He is con-
WINGED, however. that the Jap worked
out the experiment successfully and
that his sudden departure for Japan
was inspired by the desire to insti-
tute the pearl oyster culture as an
asset Of his native island.
X X J: y
cIScE the recent announcement by
= Japanese scientists that they
have discovered a method of produc-
ing pearl-bearing oysters and that
the culture is of commercial value.
McWade has resumed his expert
ments.
''The idea Of feeding oysters to pro-
duce pearls got from DR.. Reichert, one
| Of the professors at the University OF
| PENNSYLVANIA" said McWade today. He
was a great fisherman. He kept a
power boat at Atlantic City and always
spent his summer vacations fishing.
"seyen years ago found pearl in
an oyster and sold 1t to a dealer in
Maiden Lane, New York. for $500. re-
| lated my experience to DR.. Reicnert. He
told me he believed it was possible to
feed oysters SO as to produce pearls.
got to thinking of the $500 pearl sold
! and figured it out that If a man had
pearl oyster bed that would produce one
pearl a week he could give up oysterins
| for the market. Later located small
/ area where planted less than two hun
dred seed oysters. which I supplied with
a food suggested by DR.: Reichert. II
| was shortly after that 1 picked up the
Jap. He had worked with the oyster
fleet out of Baltimore, but had drifted
away from there and came here looking
for work. decided as long as he would
work cheap would take him on and let
him attend to the pearl oysters.
| never told him for long time what
was doing. Little by little. neverthe-
| less he found it out. liked him and In