54 EDIBLE BRITISH MOLLUSKS. 



Inventions/ states that real pearls are found under the 

 shield of the sea-hare {Aplysia), as has been observed 

 by Bohadsch, in his book * De Animalibus Marinis* 

 (Dresdse, 1761). Our Scotch pearl-fishery has, within 

 the last few years, been most successfully revived ; aud 

 in 1860 Mr. Moritz Unger, a foreigner, on making 

 a tour through the districts where the pearl-mussel 

 abounds, found that the pearl-fishing was not altoge- 

 ther forgotten, many of the people having pearls in 

 their possession, of which they did not know the value. 

 He purchased all he could obtain ; consequently, in 

 the following year, many persons devoted their spare 

 time to pearl-fishing, and during the summer months 

 made as much as £8 to £10 weekly. The sum- 

 mer of 1862 was most favourable for fishing, owing 

 to the dryness of the season, and the average price 

 was from £2. 6s. to 10s., £5 being a high price. They 

 now fetch prices varying from £5 to .£20. The Queen 

 purchased one Scotch pearl for 40 guineas; others at 

 high prices have been bought by the Empress of the 

 French and the Duchess of Hamilton; and Mr. Unger 

 has a necklace of these pearls valued at £350.* Pearl- 

 mussels are found in Lochs Earn, Tay, Rannoch, and 

 Lubnaig, and in the Don, the Leith, and in many of 

 the other Scotch streams ; also in some of the Welsh 

 rivers, from whence I have received fine specimens; 

 in Ireland, near Enniskillen, and in the river Bann, 

 which is noted for its fine pearls. They wade for them 

 in the shallow pools, or take them by thrusting a long 

 stick between the valves when the shell is open. When 

 a number have been collected they are left to decom- 

 pose, when the pearls drop out.f They may also be 



* The ' Times,' December 24th, 1863. f Tour in Ulster. 



