1 88 PEARLS AND PEARLING 



There are some buyers who do not know much about 

 pearls and their values. These men often buy for some 

 other buyer and their lack of knowledge of pearl values 

 limits their offers very much. Many buyers try to get a 

 pearl hunter to promise to give them the opportunity 

 to make the first offer on any pearls they may be fortu- 

 nate enough to find. 



One should not make a promise of this kind as it 

 places him under obligations to the buyer, and although 

 another buyer who is more liberal in his dealings may 

 come along, the pearl hunter is in honor bound to with- 

 hold the pearl until he has fulfilled his obligation to the 

 man who secured his promise. 



One should study the buyers and decide which man is 

 likely to ^ay the most for any pearl he may find, although 

 it is not best to mention the decision to any one, as the 

 pearl buyer may learn of it. 



When one finds a pearl, the less he says about it the 

 better, and it is not a good plan to show the gem. 



The man who pays the highest prices is the one who 

 should have the first opportunity to make an offer, and 

 if a satisfactory deal can be made it is all right to sell 

 it then. 



News of "finds" and the prices that have been offered 

 for them travels very quickly along the pearl streams, so 

 other buyers soon know of the pearls and the prices that 

 have been offered for them. 



After a price has been made on a pearl it is rather 

 difficult to secure /a higher price from another buyer. 

 This seems strange, but there is at least one good reason 



