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Distribution of Pearls and Pearl-shell. 85 
and Findhorn, in Inverness-shire ; and the rivers of the 
counties of Kerry, Donegal, Tyrone, Wexford, etc., in 
Ireland. These fisheries have been described by many 
writers from the time of the Venerable Rede (673—735 
A.D.) to the present day, and allusion has been made to 
the prevalent belief in the dew-drop origin of the gems. 
On the continent of Kurope the abundance of pearls 
in the mussels of the lakes and rivers has also given rise 
to many important fisheries. Little is known, however, of 
their early history, except that some of these localities 
appear to have been exploited by the Romans. It is 
probable that some are of an even earlier date, possibly 
owing their inauguration to Phoenician influence, as in the 
British Isles. 
The principal areas where pearl fishing has been 
carried on in modern times are France, Germany, Austria, 
Scandinavia, Denmark and Russia, 
In the east of France the pearl fisheries of the 
Vologne, in the department of the Vosges, are of special 
interest and have been celebrated for centuries, while in 
the western part of the country the pearl mussels have 
been exploited in the Adour, the Charente, the Gironde 
and tributaries, the Garonne and the Dordogne and their 
affluents, and many other streams. In Germany the pearl 
fisheries are most important in the streams of the southern 
districts, in Bavaria, Saxony and Silesia. In Austria the 
fisheries have been prosecuted in the province of Bohemia 
from very early times. The fisheries of the Wottawa River 
were noted in 1560 and this river has long been known 
as “the gold- and pearl-bearing brook.” Formerly 
along its shores, gold washing was more or less carried on, 
as well as the fresh-water pearl-mussel industry. In 
Hungary the native pearls have been popular with the 
Magyar women from early times, and very many vet 
