WHERE PEARLS ARE FOUND 47 



the Rivers in which pearls have been found are the Ten- 

 nessee, Cumberland, Caney Fork, Holston and Clinch. 

 Also on the Calf killer, Duck, Elk and other tributaries of 

 the Cumberland Tennessee Rivers. 



The famous "sky-blue" pearl from Caney Fork was 

 sold for $950.00. Another round pink pearl brought 

 $650.00, while another sold for $1,000.00. Many of the 

 pearls from the rivers in Tennessee are of fine quality 

 and color. 



The shells in many of the streams are also good. The 

 pioneer button manufacturer, Mr. J. F. Boepple, who 

 examined the shells in various rivers in Tennessee, made 

 the following statement : "The Clinch and Holston Riv- 

 ers have the best mussels for buttons that I have seen 

 in all my experience in the button business." 



Many of the other rivers contain good button material. 

 There are some localities, though, where the percentage 

 of small and colored shells is too high to consider them 

 as button material. 



Texas is now an important pearl State. Pearls have 

 been found in several of the rivers, but Caddo Lake, in 

 the northeastern part of the State has produced a large 

 number of nice pearls and is considered one of the best 

 pearl fisheries in the United States. The shells there are 

 worthless. The pearls are not so large as the ones which 

 are found in the northern rivers, but there are more of 

 them, while many are perfect and very lustrous. They 

 range in value up to $500.00. although most of them are 

 of less value. One man found $2000.00 worth of pearls 

 there last year. It is reported that 3,000 people hunted 



