io6 PEARLS AND PEARLING 



shells have been taken, or where a pearl has been found, 

 or when, for other reasons it is desirable to return to the 

 very same location, it is necessary to use some reliable 

 plan which will help to find the place again. Water is 

 very deceptive, and it is impossible to estimate the dis- 

 tance between various objects or the distance from the 

 shore. 



If the pearl hunter is in a boat, as is usually the case, 

 he should anchor the boat immediately before it is moved 

 by the river current or the wind. He will then have time 

 to note his position carefully and the best plan for mark- 

 ing such a place is illustrated in Fig. 26. This is a view of 

 the Illinois River, near Bedford, and shows a system of 

 marking a certain location by getting trees and other ob- 

 jects on the shore in alignment. By a careful study of 

 the illustration, the amateur will understand this very 

 effective system of locating mussel beds. It is a good 

 plan to carry a small note-book and a pencil while at 

 work and make a rough sketch of any position to which 

 it is desirable to return. In this method it is best to 

 sight in several different directions, getting two widely 

 separated objects in line with each other in each direc- 

 tion, and remembering the various objects that were 

 placed in alignment. The system is so perfect that an 

 experienced pearl hunter can return to the exact location 

 of any place which he may mark. 



Some beds of mussels do not run straight, so they may 

 require several marks to enable the pearl hunter to fol- 

 low them accurately and without loss of time. The men 

 who know every turn in the mussel beds are the ones 



