NATIONAL FISHERY CONGRESS. 325 



is sandy or gravelly and the country rock calcareous. While still numerous in 

 many streams, they have greatly diminished within a few years past, wherever the 

 pearl-hunting enterprise has extended, and are at some points nearly exterminated. 

 The pearls found are few, aucj those of marketable value represent the destruction of 

 thousands of shells for every one obtained. No use is made of this often beautiful 

 material, which is simply thrown away and lost; although for buttons and ornameutal 

 articles it would be admirable. The methods of gathering the shells and extracting 

 the pearls are the simplest and most primitive, and the activity of a few seasons 

 generally exhausts the beds. 



This state of affairs is one that calls loudly for reform. The wealth of Unios that 

 filled our rivers is rapidly being destroyed by ignorant and wasteful methods of pearl- 

 hunting; and either some form of protection is important, or, if that be not possible, 

 a wide diffusion of information as to better methods, and particularly the introduction 

 of tools used in Germany for opening Unios far enough to see if there are pearls 

 contained without destroying the animal, which may then be returned to the water. 



PEARL HUNTING AS AN OCCUPATION. 



As to the principal occupations of the pearl-hunters, or pearlers, as they are 

 called, this was answered by 64 papers. Of these, 13 say merely that their occupa- 

 tions are various, or that people of all callings are included. The remaining 51 papers 

 state more or less definitely as follows: Farmers and farmhands, 23; laborers, 12; 

 fishermen, 8; and as making pearl-hunting a regular business, 7. Three papers speak 

 of loafers, and one or two each specify as follows: Stockmen, hunters, trappers, 

 tradesmen, roustabouts, boys, and negroes, and the Maryland paper, oystermen. The 

 term "laborers" as used- in those answers probably means, in most cases, farm- 

 laborers, as stated in a few instances; and the indication is that two- thirds of the 

 pearl-hunting is done by agricultural people who search the streams when not other- 

 wise occupied, "in off times," as two or three of the writers say. Fishermen are 

 naturally much in preponderance, who gather the mussels for bait. 



METHODS OF EXTRACTING PEARLS. 



The inquiry as to the mode of extracting the pearls when found received 72 

 answers. A large proportion of these are general, merely saying " by hand, " with 

 the fingers," etc., but about one-third give more or less description of the process. 

 When the shell has been opened, the pearls, if loose and near the edge, may be readily 

 seen, and sometimes even drop out. These are, of course, easily taken out with the 

 thumb and finger, or, if small, with tweezers, or on the point of a knife. If more 

 embedded in the mantle and gills, they are detected by feeling for them, passing or 

 rubbing the thumb or finger along and around each valve and about the region of the 

 hinge. The pearls may then be pressed or squeezed out "like the seed of a cherry"; 

 but if attached to the shell, must be removed with a pair of nippers. Care is required 

 in opening, not to scratch or injure the pearl. A very few describe different methods; 

 thus one Arkansas pearler speaks of breaking the shells, and a Florida pearler tells 

 of piling the mussels in a dry place to decay, the Oriental method of opening the true 

 pearl-oyster and finding the pearls in the emptied shells later. This method is 

 evidently practicable only where little or no "pearl hunting" is generally carried on, 

 and the pile of shells would not be liable to inspection and search by other parties 

 than the original gatherers. 



