322 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



(11) Turbo sarmaticus. 



(12) Haliotis (different varieties). — Found in the North Sea, New Zea- 

 land, the Cape of Good Hope, and Japan. 



(13) Anodonta herculea. 



(14) Alamodon, Unio, (&c. — Found in Scotland, Ireland, Lapland, Bo- 

 hemia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Canada. 



The sea pearl fisheries are principally confined to the Persian Gulf 

 the coasts of Ceylon, the Eastern Archipelago, Australia, the lagoons 

 of many islands in the Pacific, and to Central America. 



Fresh-water pearls have, as a rule, but little luster, and are conse- 

 quently of no great value; although one occasionally finds pearls hav- 

 ing a value of from 50 to 70 crowns [$13.40 to $18.7G], and sometimes 

 even of 1,800 crowns [$482.40]. For a while the Scotch pearls enjoyed 

 a great reputation. From 1761 to 1764 more thau 180,000 crowns' 

 [$48,240] worth of pearls are said to have been brought to London from 

 the rivers Tay and Isla. During the dry summer of 1862 a surprising 

 quantity of pearls was found in Scotland. The average value of these 

 pearls varied between 40 and 45 crowns [$10.72 to $12.06], but those 

 valued at 100 crowns [$26.80] were also quite frequent. Statisticians 

 estimate that the total value of pearls found in Scotland in 1865 was 

 216,000 crowns [57,888]. Since that time pearls have advanced con- 

 siderably in value. 



During the summer months the Arabs carry on a sort of pearl fish- 

 ery on the coast of the Red Sea. They catch the mollusks and lay 

 them in the sun, so that they may ojien quickly. Jedda is the princi- 

 pal place where these fisheries are carried on. The exportatiou of 

 mother-of-pearl from Jedda vm Alexandria annually amounts to 1,200,000 

 pounds avoirdupois, half of which quantity goes to Birmingham. 



The pearl fisheries in the Persian Gulf, especially on the coasts of 

 the Island of Bahrein, are also in the hands of the Arabs. The best 

 beds are said to be on fine white sand and in clear water. Nearly 5,000 

 boats are employed in these fisheries, and their annual value is esti- 

 mated at 1,080,000 crowns [$289,440]. Beds of pearls are found at va- 

 rious depths as far down as 18 fathoms. The general depth at which 

 they are found is, however, from 4 to 8 fathoms. The season lasts from 

 April to September. Most of the shells are brought to the little harbor 

 of Lingah; thence a considerable quantity of mother-of-pearl is shipped 

 direct to London, only a small quantity going to the continent of 

 Europe. Many pearls, especially those of a yellow color and those 

 having a complete cone-shape, are sent to Bombay. Bagdad is a con- 

 siderable market for white pearls. The shells which come to England 

 from Persia are mostly small and have a subdued luster; but as a rule 

 they bring higher prices than the Panama and Tahiti shells. The an- 

 nual quantity imported is rarely less 300,000 pounds. The total value 

 of the pearls exported from the Persian Gulf during 1879 was 7,500,000 

 crowns [$2,010,000]. 



