CARE, VALUE AND SALE OF PEARLS 189 



for it. When an article has been offered for sale and a 

 dealer refuses to pay more than a certain known price for 

 it, other buyers who have learned of the offer naturally 

 become somewhat conservative and do not care to offer 

 a price which another dealer has refused to quote be- 

 cause of the business risk. 



The financial condition of the one who finds a pearl 

 has very much to do with the price. It is a deplorable 

 fact that many pearl hunters are often in such a great 

 need of money that they sell pearls far below their real 

 value rather than hold them for a better price. 



Under these circumstances perhaps it would be a good 

 plan to secure the assistance of a storekeeper or banker. 

 He could hold the pearl and supply some necessities and 

 money and later the two could sell the pearl at a fair 

 price and thus prevent a loss. 



Pearl hunters are entitled to every consideration and 

 should always receive the highest prices for their gems. 



