ABALONES, OR SEA-EARS. 



55 



rainbow colors of which the lining of the shell 

 seems to be made, especially at the place where 

 you loosen the muscle. 



In fact, it is to obtain these lovely pearl-lined 

 shells that so many of these creatures are an- 

 nually caught along our coasts. The small ones 

 are neglected, but men go out in boats at low 

 tide, when the waves are quiet, and with hooks 

 and chisels 

 on the ends 

 of long poles 

 dislodge them 

 from their 

 resting-places 

 on the rocks 

 and take them 

 on board. 



Of late, reg- ^'s^-we 21. 



ular diving-suits have been used, and in some 

 places the poor abalones have been so hunted 

 that stringent laws have been made to prevent 

 their extermination. 



It is not the shell alone that is valuable; the 

 great muscular foot is also prized for food, es- 

 pecially by the Chinese. Probably it was also 

 eaten by the Indians, for along our coast, where 

 abalones abound, there may be found vast num- 



