IO4. PEARLS AND PEARLING 



that locality he has saved considerable money from the 

 sale of shells, pearls, baroques and slugs, and has bought 

 a small farm and built a pretty home. In mentioning the 

 good fortune of Mr. Cumber, it should be stated that he 

 has been far more successful than the average pearl 

 hunter, and amateurs must not infer that they may be 

 sure of doing as well. 



Other favorable places for pearl hunting may be found 

 just below sand or gravel bars, and especially below the 

 bars which are found at the mouth of a creek or smaller 

 stream which comes through a rocky district. These 

 bars protect the mussel beds from the strong currents, 

 and, as the water is rather shallow just below them, it is 

 warmer and large numbers of parasites thrive and affect 

 the mussels. The deeper water just a little below- such 

 places is one of the best places to look for fine pearls. 



Many fine pearls have been found in locations where 

 the river bed often contains deposits of blue mud. 



While the places that have been described are the ones 

 most likely to yield pearls, they are also found in other 

 places which do not appear to be so favorable. 



Where beds are located near steamboat landings, occa- 

 sionally shells can be found that have been injured by 

 the steamboats, and these shells sometimes contain slugs 

 and baroques, and in rare cases pearls have been found 

 in them. The importance of the steamboat landing, how- 

 ever, has been greatly overestimated. 



In prospecting for pearls, it is very important to mark 

 every new place that is especially favorable. At any 

 particular spot where an unusually large number of 



