Tortoiseshell and the J^urtle Fisheries. 355 



devices that may have been engraved or embossed upon 

 the two halves of the mould leave corresponding impressions 

 upon the shell. The mould is then taken out of the hot 

 water and steeped in cold water for a quarter of an hour ; 

 after which the shell is taken out and is found to retain the 

 form imparted to it by the mould. 



When two pieces of tortoiseshell are to be joined 

 together, the two edges are bevelled or chamferred offj so 

 that one inclined edge may lie upon the other. The edges 

 are then scraped perfectly clean, contact with the fingers 

 or any greasy substance being carefully guarded against. 

 A piece of paper is then bound round the overlapped 

 edges and fastened with string. A pair of tongs or pincers, 

 something like hair-dressers' tongs, are then heated and 

 applied to the shell, one jaw above and another beneath, 

 by which the shell is grasped throughout the length of the 

 seam or overlap. By holding it some time in this position 

 the heat of the iron penetrates through the paper, softens 

 the shell, and causes the two pieces to unite firmly. Some- 

 times two pieces of shell are united by means of boiling 

 water. The two edges are overlapped, two pieces of metal 

 are placed along the joining, the shell is placed in a press, 

 and the whole is immersed in boiling water. As the shell 

 softens, the press is screwed more tightly, by which the two 

 pieces of shell become firmly united. In practice, when 

 two pieces of tortoiseshell are joined, attention is paid to 

 the colour and pattern of the surface, in order that the two 

 pieces may agree in those respects. 



Sometimes ornaments are made of what may be termed 

 melted tortoiseshell, with very beautiful effect. The clip- 

 pings, raspings, turnings, etc., of tortoiseshell are collected 

 and put into moulds which are double ; that is, a mould for 

 the external surface of a box or piece of ornament, and 



