CHAP. ix.J ADMIRATION OF SCOTTISH PEARLS. 403 



Isla ; but the trade carried on in the corresponding years of 

 this century is far more than double that amount. Mr. Unger 

 estimates the pearls found last summer (1864) to be of the 

 value to the finders of about 10,000 ; whereas, on his first 

 tour, he bought up, four years ago, all that were to be had for 

 the sum of 40. Single specimens have recently been found 

 worth as much as 60. 



From the middle of last century till about 1860 the Scot- 

 tish pearl-fisheries were quite neglected, and large pearls were 

 found only as it were by accident in occasional dry seasons, 

 when the rivers were scant of water, and the mussels were 

 consequently accessible without much trouble. It was left 

 for Mr. Unger to discern the capabilities of the Scottish pearl 

 as an ornamental gem of great value ; and it is now a fact 

 that the beautiful pink-hued pearls of our Scottish streams 

 are admired even beyond the Oriental pearls of Ceylon. The 

 Empress Eugenie, Queen Victoria, and other royal ladies, as 

 well as many of the nobility, have been making large pur- 

 chases of these Scottish gems. In some rural districts the 

 peasantry are making little fortunes by pearl-seeking for only 

 a few hours a day. Many of the undemonstrative weavers 

 and cobblers, whose residence is near a pearl-producing stream, 

 contrive, in the early morning, or after the usual day's work, 

 to step out and gather a few hundreds of the pearl-containing 

 mussels, in which they are almost sure to find a few gems of 

 more or less value. The pearl-fisher requires no capital to set 

 him up in his trade ; he needs no costly instruments, but has 

 only to wade into the stream, put forth his hand, and gather 

 what he finds. 



An intelligent pearl-fisher, who resides near the river 

 Doon, has sent me the following graphic account of what he 

 calls " the pearl fever : " " For many years back the boys 

 were in the habit of amusing themselves in the summer-time, 

 when the water was shallow, bv gathering mussels and search- 



