Industrial and Manufacturing Uses of Shells. 287 



were subject to an import duty, varying from 5 to 20 per 

 cent., it was necessary that the entries should be more 

 specifically detailed. 



Large quantities of shells, which are used for different 

 manufacturing purposes, come in under the broad, general 

 heading of " specimens of natural history." The only 

 specific mention of shells in the Parliamentary trade returns 

 are mother-of-pearl, cowries, and cameos unset, besides 

 pearls, the well-known and valued product of the pearl 

 oyster. 



The imports and value, as far as officially stated, in 

 1870 were :- 



Mother-of-pearl, 26, 197 CAvts. ... ... ^76,489 



Cowries, 6118 cwts. ... ... ... 6,347 



Cameos, not set ... ... ... 3>445 



Miscellaneous shells for collectors, dealers, 



and manufacturers, about ... ... 14,000 



Pearls ... ... ... ... 16,675 



;i 16,956 



These figures were much below the average. 



The use of shells is not restricted to this country. They 

 are employed for manufacturing purposes in China and 

 India, in France, Italy, Germany, and other parts of the 

 continent of Europe, and also in North America ; so that 

 the subject we have been considering takes larger propor- 

 tions than at first sight would appear. 



