VALUE AND USES OF SHELLS 97 



answer for use in windows very beautifully. It would be 

 necessary to grind away the epidermis and polish them on 

 the outside, but windows of such material would be very 

 novel and valuable. 



Shells were used for currency by the Indians in the 

 early history of the United States, and were known as 

 "wampum." Even yet shells are used as currency in 

 certain parts of Africa. 



The giant clam, Tridacna, is found in tropical waters 

 and often on the oriental pearl beds. It yields the 

 largest shells in existence. In some cases a single pair 

 of these weigh over $00 pounds. A diver who acci- 

 dentally places a hand or foot in an open shell is impris- 

 oned and must sever the limb to save his life. These 

 shells are often used as benetiers. A pair of them were 

 giveai by the Republic of Venice to Francis L, and are 

 now used as benetiers in the Church of St. Sulpice, in 

 Paris. 



The descriptions of some of the shells of foreign 

 waters were taken from a paper on foreign shells and 

 will probably be of interest to pearl hunters in general. 



