THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 85 



•deposition of tlie pearly material around grains of sand or other 

 .accidental intrusions, for the sake of rendering the latter less irritating 

 to the animal, and this is the generally received opinion. The pro- 

 portion of individuals containing them is, however, very small; not one 

 in a thousand contains a pearl of real value. The Mussels found in 

 clear, running, gravelly streams are most likely to contain them. 



Economics. Pearls are obtained from fresh-water Mussels 

 in several parts of the world, notably China, Japan, Germany, 

 and formerly, Scotland, They are also found in the United 

 States, and some rivers have been systematically worked for 

 them. Those of Scotland were formerly held in high esteem 

 and have brought very high prices. A complete discussion of 

 the subject may be found m the papers mentioned below. 



In our own waters some very valuable pearls have been 

 found in the fresh-water Mussel. Mr. S. E. Gerow, of the 

 Customs, St. John, is the most expert and successful pearl- 

 fisher of these provinces. The following facts have been 

 given by him to Mr. S. W. Kain, and the latter has kindly 

 allowed the writer to quote them. 



"' The largest pearl Mr. Gerow knows of that has yet been 

 iound in New Brunswick, weighed fifty-six grains, and was 

 sold to parties in Philadelphia for four hundred and fifty 

 dollars. . . . This was found in a brook near Sussex, Kings 

 County. Mr. Gerow found one himself at Coldbrook, which 

 weighed twenty-five grains, and he sold it for one hundred 

 and fifty dollars. It was a very beautiful pearl of splendid 

 lustre and perfect shape. He found another at the same 

 place worth one hundred and fifty dollars, and weighing 

 nineteen grains. Little New River, he says, is a good place 

 for them. He found one there that weighed eighteen grains, 

 and sold for one hundred and ten dollars. A man who was 

 with him found one that he sold for thirty dollars. Mr. 

 Gerow stated that he had seen a pearl from Nova Scotia that 

 sold for seventy-five dollars. St. John, Kings and Charlotte 

 are the only counties where he knows of much search having 

 been made. Mr. Gerow found another weighing fifty grains, 

 but it was not symmetrical. It was flat on one side, but of a 

 ■very good j)urplish lustre. He sold it in New York for one 



