60 SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



they are little esteemed on account of their coppery 

 taste. Besides this^ the fishing for pearl oysters 

 goes on there ; and before completing this chapter I 

 must give some account of that. 



Up to 1856, it was supposed that the pearl-oyster 

 was only found in the Indian and Chinese seas, the 

 Persian Gulf, and California ; but in that year 

 something happened which added the United States 

 of America to the list of pearl-bearing countries. 



Before that time, the Milk Pond surveyors had 

 occasionally discovered in their oysters, pearls of about 

 the size of a nail-head ; but one day, a proprietor of 

 that fishery opening a few dozens for his own break- 

 fast in the park itself was astonished at finding in 

 each oyster, with very few exceptions, a pearl vary- 

 ing in size from a small pea to a hazel-nut. Among 

 those which he collected, and which were handed 

 over to Messrs. Tiffany, the New York jewellers, 

 v/ere some which were purchased for £80 to £120, 

 and of which the real value was from £200 to £320. 

 In the East,* where pearls have their highest value, 



great heat. A moderate temperature is required for this purpose, such 

 as in the months of March, April, Septemher, and October. Storms 

 and rain are unfavourable to the operation, and also great disturbance 

 of the water, and above all, the north wind. There are years in which 

 oysters green easily, whilst in others they will hardly change colour. 

 The greenness is attributed to the mixture of salt and fresh water, to 

 the action of the sun, to the north-west wind, the nature of the soil, 

 the weed, and the temperature. 



* The Easterns have always had a great fancy for these drops of 

 solidified dew, as they call the fine pearls, with which they give pomp 

 and magnificence to their beautiful costumes. 'Ihe Jews, who were 



