104 Pe.VKL FiSHIXi:. 



but they are very wary, the least vibration making them close 

 their shells. In shallow water they are raised by the hand, or 

 those possessed of flexibility of toe can grasp and sling them into 

 shallow water. For deeper water a stick about six or seven feet 

 long, having a slit at one end, tied with cord to prevent its spUtting, 

 is used. This is forced (jver the shell, and the spring of the wood 

 clasps it firm enough to land them. One ing-enious party, who had 

 been tantalised by a particularly nice-looking mussel in deep 

 water, waited patiently until the fish opened its shell. He then 

 gently inserted the point of his fishing rod, and on feeling the 

 intrusion the shell was closed and the fish landed. Fishers with 

 worm at times land them, the hook, getting into the open shell and 

 the fish closing, cause their own capture. Long handled rakes, 

 with a few long teeth, are also used. These are inserted bslow 

 the shell, but an instrument of more ingenuity than any of these 

 is two large inverted spoons attached to wooden shafts. These 

 are jointed near where grasped by the hand. A spring keeps 

 them open, but pressure closes them when rer^uired, and the fish 

 is raised without trouble. The fishing is, however, of such a 

 precarious nature that no one devotes himself to it. I have heard 

 of people hunting the water carefully and getting nothing, and a 

 tramp going down to the same part of the stream, and in ten 

 minutes securing a fine psarl for which he secured 20s from a lady 

 visitor to the locality. 



As to the number of pearls found in Dee it is difficult to 

 arrive at any proper decision, as they are sold in so many places, 

 and such numbers of people fish for them, and either mount them 

 or give them to friends. One young man got £10 for a number he 

 got one year fishing at odd times, and various parties near Bridge- 

 of-Dee secure a few pounds each season. As to size and quality, Mr 

 M'Skimming of Kirkcudbright bought a very nice one, for which 

 he gave £15, and it changed hands ag'ain for nearly double this 

 sum. One of a dumb bell shape, of the size of a horse bean, as 

 described to me, was sold for £10, and I shew you some lovely 

 pearls, the property of Miss Bruce of Old Garroch, formerly of 

 Slogarie. One of these is 21 grains in weight, round, and of a 

 lovely colour, about the size of a wren's egg. One of great size 

 and purity was said to have been found on Doon, and was sold for 

 £70, but I am sorry to say I could not trace it. On this lovely 

 stream some fine pearls have been got. The difficulty, however, 



